Soloist chapter 13-22

Once getting to this part of the book I have come to really like each character a little better. They are both opening up to each other and letting each other in. The Soloist gives a good long lived lesson to take chances in what you believe in and never give up even if there are others who don’t believe in you.
You have this man who just wants to live in his own spaced out world by himself. He has this talent that only comes with practice but hasn’t really been showed out in the big world. Then you have this other man who is trying as hard as possible to get a good story out of something. He lives his life everyday with the thoughts and ideas of a writer. As the story gets further on I feel that his everyday ways soon change. It isn’t about his job or impressing the people at the office, but about the belief that we can all change people if we put our minds to it. Steve Lopez has a lot of courage and also care for other people. You would think this man wouldn’t need anything else but a nice house and nice job but its not good to judge people. Steve has feelings too and so does Nathaniel. Nathaniel just needed someone to care about him and his feelings. That’s how a lot of people are in the world today, They doubt the most important people and then don’t let anyone else in to help. This is when peoples’ minds go all crazy and they get to the insanity part like Nathaniel. All people need is a helping hand and the knowingness that there is someone out there who cares. As long as you have this then anything is possible and the willingness to change will always be there.

The Soloist 7-12

As I keep reading the one question I keep asking myself is will Lopez keep up with not getting full answers for his column or will he keep trying his hardest because he knows the outcome of the story will be like nothing he has every had. He knows he can achieve this goal just isn't sure how long his wait will be.  So far Lopez has used every way possible to get Nathaniel off the street and into a safe environment. Some things Nathaniel doesn't agree with but soon gives in because he knows all Lopez is doing is trying to get him through his hardships. Lopez saw something there from the first time he set eyes on Nathaniel. He sees greatness coming out of him and only wants him to get better at what he does.  In the beginning of the story it seemed like all Lopez was worried about was his article but as you read on you see a true loving friendship come through. Lopez cares for Nathaniel like he is family. You don't see this often now a days. Lots of people are raised like they are better then everyone else. This world is too much involved in ones self to see the outsider. Lopez has found this outsider and only wants the best for him. This is a great deed done by a great person. You would think this man was only into himself and his job but everyone has that greatness inside it just takes a while for it to come out sometimes. I am very excited to see what the ending of the story comes out to be. 

The Soloist 1-6

Nathaniel Anthony Ayers is a man with a lost dream. Steve Lopez is a man who needs a good story. As Lopez sees this talented man on the street he knows there's something special here. He has just walked into a great story without even realizing it. Little did he know the tuff situations he will have to face on this journey. Lopez notices that Nathaniel comes off as a little strange. He seems like he's not paying total attention to their conversations they have and doesn't seem to say much. This is when Lopez realizes the hassle it is going to be getting a whole story out of him. Nathaniel is playing a half broken violin when he is first introduced to Steve Lopez. He talks much about Beethoven and also some very other big music producers. A couple days later of trying to grasp every detail of this guys life, Lopez finds out that Nathaniel attend Julliard school which is just about the best music school for a musician to go. Nathaniel didn't fully go through all his years once he was faced with a medical problem which caused him to end up alone and lonely. With the little bit that Lopez finds out he writes his first column on Nathaniel's longing for music and what greatness he can succeed in life. Has soon as the piece was published it got great reviews back. Dozens of people were writing back to Lopez asking of ways to help Nathaniel get through these tuff times. Many even sent over well put together violins and this one generous guy even sent over a big cello. Lopez wanted Nathaniel off the streets and away from dangerous people that can harm him. Lopez made a deal with Nathaniel. In order for him to be able to enjoy all the new instruments he would have to play them at a place away from the street which can give him better care. Nathaniel put up a fight at first but later gave in because of the love he had and the longing he wanted to play those instruments. So Nathaniel is left a this shelter called Lamp where he has invested in new instruments to play and now has the company of many listeners.


I would like you to commant on the way I explanied the character of Nathaniel Anthony Ayers

The Catcher in the Rye

The Catcher in the Rye by J.D Salinger is about a troubled young boy trying to seek the comfort he has never found. He speaks through this book as if he was asked to explain every detail in his past time. As you read his words and conversations he has with people you can notice right away there is something wrong in his head. He comes off to other people as just a normal boy who doesn't like to take everything seriously when in reality there is a problem there.
I believe this story was written for young adults to see the changing in life people have to go through. Some teenagers face problems that they think is so extreme when really there are bigger things going on today. This story shows that we do have it really good. We could be like this man with no social skills and very little friends. We are raised to be the best children we could be without noticing that there are people out there who don't have these skills. They may either have a disorder which doesn't make their minds think like ours or could just be defiant not wanting to listen or hear what anyone else has to say.
When we complain about not having enough or say " I can't" we should really stop for a second and think about the people who absolutely nothing let alone not having enough and the people who really cant do something because of a disorder or disability. The boy in the story can have all these things he wants if he would just live his life according to the way it should be lived. He makes himself to be the outcast and the problem child when he has the smarts to go to a great school but just doesn't put his mind to his work.

I would like you to comment on if I made my point across of why this story was written for us young adults to read.

The Death of a Salesman

The Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller was a tradgic love story. As you read the story you see how close the whole family once was and what distance and carelessness really can do to people. This story has to do with love found but then forgotton. You can also say its about never forgiving because of the great dissapointment it would bring to everyone else.
Willy Loman used to be just like any other man. Great worker, supported his family to the fullest, and loved them with all his heart. That was when he was happy. Then somthing horrible happened. Willy started working away from home ALL the time. He didnt see his family much but when he did come home they were always there with big smiles and careing hugs. It was when his two boys, Happy and Biff, grew older that he became this crazy person. Willy begins to seem very distant and not fully there. He starts talking to himself replaying events that once happened years before. People just think hes getting old when in realilty he's just not really over what his son saw.
Willy became lonley on his trips away from home. This is when he found another women to fill that lonleiness. You dont find out till the end of the story that this is the real reason why he becomes so depressed and seems far away. One night he invited his friend over to his room just like any other night when he was away. This night was different because Biff decieded to go see his father. Biff was upset because he had jsut found out that he was unable to graduate from highschool. He thought his father could maybe change somthing about that so he drove all the up to see him. Little did he knOw he would find his father with another women. Willy tried to play it off at first but Biff was not a stupid boy.After seeing this I feel Biff became scarred. He then started making the wrong choices by not going back to school and was always unaware of what he really wanted. He knew he wouldnt be able to tell his mother and just never really knew how to deal with the situation. In the end Willy knows he was a very wrong man but that secreat stayed between a son and his father throughtout the whole book and I think that thats a story within its self.

I would like you guys to comment on the way I written this little summary. I didn't use every detail in the story but I tried being as descriptive as possible and I would like you to comment if I did that successfully or not.

Blogger has helped me in so many ways. It has been a value to me as a student because I am given the opportunity to read other peoples ideas if I am stuck. Most of the time I have a difficult time figuring out how to bring my topics about and blogger has helped in a big way with that. Once I get an idea from someone else's writing, something just clicks in my head and I get everything else figured out. It has helped me as a writer by having the chance to do posts every weekend. The good side of having to do that is wanting your writing to progress every week. I like the fact that we know each week there will be a paper to be done over the weekend. There is never excuses that the students didnt know they had something and also cant say they lost it. The fact that it needs to be done over the computer is also a great help. I know by experience that once I start typing it gets hard to stop. It makes it easier for my thoughts to come out quickly. I feel that this program been a great help to us all. In other classes there are always books to write in and things that can become lost. This set up encourages students to want to do their homework each week. One suggestion that I have for further bloggings is to be able to see the grade which we received for that paper. I like to know what my outcome was to my final piece. A thing I do like and would like to keep happening is when the teacher comments on our writing. I like to see what he feels about what we wrote and not just get a letter grade. Us being able to see EVERYONES writings and not just our class like usual give us to opportunity to get to know those students a little better. We are unable to know how they learn or what their likes and dislikes are but the person they are comes out in their writings. All in all this program has brought us all closer.

The Great Gatsby

You may still be asking who Jay Gatsby is. Some said he was a bootlegger while others thought a killer. In reality, he was just like you and me. He had a house, a life, and what may be surprising, feelings. Gatsby knew what he wanted in life and did everythingin his power until it was achieved. Daisy was the love of his life but there were some things blocking his way of getting and Tom Buchanan was his main fear. This is where Nick Carraway, Gatsby's neighbor comes in. Them too lived right next door together, the only difference was Gatsby lived in a mansion while Nick had the usually small house. These two men were actually not a like at all. Nick wasn't the sociable and probably will never begin his own family. Gatsby was the complete opposite. He lived the party life, inviting guests over to he house every weekend and knew who he wanted to spend the rest of his life with. Nick never really understood Gatsby. He just always felt like there were secrets or things that were left untold for the better. When Nick started getting invites to all the parties and even better an invite to lunch with this great Gatsby he knew something was up. Jordan Baker also had involvement with Gatsby's plan. She and Nick knew each other from Daisy and liked each other from the start. Since Gatsby knew just about everyone, he set up a date with the three of them in order to try and reunite him and Daisy. His explanation was that she never loved her husband Tom. They met when he was a solider with no set plan for life. He didn't have much money at the time and knew he was going to be called back to do his duty. Even though it was like love at first sight they both knew it wouldn't work till a later time .Daisy met Tom while Gatsby was in the war. She still was unsure about Gatsby on her wedding day. Daisy didn't know if he was going to come back to her or just find someone knew. Little did she know, Gatsby knew every detail about her life once he was informed of Tom. Nick finally agreed to have an arrangement for Daisy to come over for tea. This was the first time they saw each other since years ago. It was a little awkward at first but then that love that they once had for each other came out. Now Tom was the a cheater throughout the last few years of Daisy's life which helped her with her chioce. She knew the day was soon to come that she would leave her husband but was just waiting for the right reason. As soon as her and Gatsby kicked it off she knew that this was going to be the end of her marriage and the start of something new. In order for it to not look bad, Daisy started inviting Tom to the gettogether that her Nick and Gatsby would have. As time progressed Tom got the impression that something fishy was going on. When he confronted everyone they made it as if they had no idea what he was talking about. Tom knew exactly what he was talking about. This is where Tom mistress comes in. Her name was Myrtle Wilson. She also had a husband that was well aware of the affairs that were going on. On the last few weeks of these peoples lives a lot happened. As everyone was driving home after a long hot day offighting, Nick, Tom, and Jordan drove in one car while Daisy and Gatsby rode in other. On the drive home, Daisy and Gatsby got into a little accident which resulted in the death of Myrtle. Now Daisy had no idea that her husband had any connection with this women. The car they were driving was Gatsby’s and Tom knew this. When Myrtle’shusband, George Wilson, was on a streak to finding her killer he was asking of the car. Once he got to Tom, he had no problem opening his mouth to saying it was Gatsby's. He didn't want this man with his wife. As much as he was upset for losing his mistress, he knew he would never live with the fact that his wife left him for another man. Not knowing what Mr. Wilson was up to, Tom gave him the address to Gatsby's house. This was Jay Gatsby and George Wilson’s last day to live. Gatsby was shot and then Mr. Wilsontook his own life. All Gatsby wanted was love and to be loved by one he loved. He never meant any harm when doing this but just wanted what he knew he couldn't have and what wasn't his to begin with.

After reading the first couple chapters of "The Great Gatsby", I have come to know some things about the two main characters. Nick Carraway was raised to never be judgemental which explains his reasonings to why he never listened to what people said about Mr. Gatsby. Nick is a lonely man but has a great deal of not showing it. I feel he wants to have someone in his life but isn't really sure if he is ready for a family just yet. I met many if his friends throughout the book but it seems like he is still always the outcast when hanging with everyone. I also feel that Nick is being tested throughout the book on his judgmental skills.
Now for Jay Gatsby, his wealthy neighbor. As I read, not many people knew much about him. Its not that the man keeps to himself, its just hes never engaged to talk about himself. His money is from past family wealthiness which was mostly passed down to just him. Gatsby comes off as someone who is willing to give to anyone who needs it. He just wants to live his life to the fullest before it is over. He is a wear of all the stories which are told about him but has a really hard time convincing people that they are not true. Hopefully as I read more I get to know each character better.

Living in the earth-deposits of our history Today a backhoe divulged out of a crumbling flank of earth one bottle amber perfect a hundred-year-oldcure for fever or melancholy a tonic for living on this earth in the winters of this climate.Today I was reading about Marie Curie:she must have known she suffered from radiation sickness her body bombarded for years by the element she had purified It seems she denied to the end the source of the cataracts on her eyes the cracked and suppurating skin of her finger-end still she could no longer hold a test-tube or a pencilShe died a famous woman denying her wounds denying her wounds came from the same source as her power.
Rich's poem has a lot of emotion built in. This woman she is explaining has problems from a terrible sickness. She writes how this woman refused to addmit there was a sickness when saying, "She denied to the end." Rich tries to get across the lonelyness in this woman's life as her ending days approach. How she was unaware of what was happening to the changing of her body but still faught through it all. I feel the title is this poem deal with exactly that. The power in which this women indulged into during her sickness.

Adrienne Rich was born on May 16, 1929 in Baltimore, Maryland. Sher dealt with many problem when growing up involving her father's Jewish background and mother's Protestanism. All her life she was very close to her father and under his protection and guidance she began writing poetry. The years of 1953 to 1958 were also very difficult for Rich.In those few years she got married and had three sons. This changed both her life and poetry. She went through a ton of distress while letting her feelings and emotions out in her writings as actual art. Her peices became one of the most elaquent, provocative voices on the topics of sexually, race, language, power and womens rights. In 1997, she refused the National Medal of Arts, stating that "I could not accept such an award from President Clinton or this White House because the very meaning of art, as I understand it, is incompatible with the cynical politics of this administration." She went on to say: "[Art] means nothing if it simply decorates the dinner table of the power which holds it hostage."Adrienne Rich - Poets.org - Poetry, Poems, Bios & More. Her works of writing are of America because what she came out to say involved details and actions about the happenings of that time period. She formed her thoughts from the surroundings in her everything life.
I dreamed I called you on the telephone to say:
Be kinder to yourself but you were sick and would not answer
The waste of my love goes on this way trying to save you from yourself
I have always wondered about the left-overenergy,
the way water goes rushing down a hill long after the rains have stopped
or the fire you want to go to bed from
but cannot leave, burning-down but not burnt-down
the red coals more extreme, more curiousin their flashing and dying
than you wish they weresitting long after midnight

Kate Chopin

A Pair of Sild Stocking & Lilacs by Kate Chopin
Marcel Castelli
Kate Chopin expresses her writings in a unique way. She uses words of today rather than those of the the American Romantics. These stories are sometimes hard to comprehend because the use of the old language can puzzle the reader. The progression in writing has increased since these time periods for the better. Kate and other writers make thier stories more interesting and enjoyable to read. She includes some suspense into her writings which makes us want to further read to get to the ending. Another part of Kate's writings that interested me was how she would end her stories. The reader is able to use thier own imagination in ending the story becuase she doesnt just come out and say it. She leaves you with little details which can mean multiple things could have happened.
When reading ''A Pair of Silk Stockings'', I saw how Kate was trying to bring out a young woman with some issues. She has this money which is a large amount in her eyes but is unsure as to what should be done with it. She first thinks of her children and how they are in a big need of new clothes but somehow becomes very greedy. She goes out and buys all new things for herself. I feel that the theme if this story is money doesn't by love. The women is enjoyinh all her nice and expensive clothes and accessories thinking it was going to change other peoples' veiw of her when in realilty that is not what people want. What matters to people is the person inside. Maybe Kate wrote this because she may realize people act this way although the outcome of this fake life style doesn't always come with love.
One the other hand, when reading ''Lilacs'', I got the impression that this woman is stuck between two different lives. She has the fun but hardworking life and then the being a nun worshiping God side. She is undeicied of what she really intends to do. While caught in her confusion the other nuns agree that they are fed up with visits if she is just going to go back to her daily routine once she leaves. They agree to let her know she is unable to come back. I belive the theme of this story is deceit. She is confused about which life to follow and misleads herself and those around her. She figures that going back and holding onto the better life would make her a better person when in realilty thats just in her head. The nuns become mad because they know she wasn't trying with her whole heart. Kate could have experienced or know somone who was unaware of the path thier life would lead. She is thinking you cant change your ways unless you really put your mind to do it. Thinking it and doing it are two different actions and sooner or later the people you are trying to convince aren't going to believe you anymore.
I think Kate is trying to get her words out to all growing people. She is trying to give lessons on how people should be living by giving real life experiences. When reading these stories I get the big picture on life. A person can not go about all parts of life in a careless manner. I feel you should have somewhat of a plan to go by in order to live out your life correctly. If you are still unaware of what u want by your middle ages then you need to start looking fast. Something that drew me very close to Kate is just that reason. She takes her views on a different level. Kate is trying to get out what most people are scared to say. If you are still lost by the middle ages you're not going to want to announce it and also, if you are a selfish person you're not going to want to admit that. I like the fact that Kate makes her writings interesting and make me want to keep reading. Like I said before, she adds suspense which makes you want to just see what happens in the end. In the story “Lilacs”, Kate writes, ‘But Adrienne did not delay her respects to the Mother Superior, whose dignity would not permit her to so much as step outside the door of her private apartments to welcome this old pupil. She kissed Adrienne without warmth….’ After reading this section of the story I now know there is tension between some of the nuns and Adrienne which makes me want to engage more into the story.
Overall I was pleased with the ideas of Kath Chopin's stories and wish to find more on her. She brings interests into her words which many writers lack. For any student to understand and enjoy a story, they have to find interest in it. If not, they are going to find themselves straying away from the meaning of the story. Kate doesn't have this problem and gets her points across very well.

Does writing have the power to enact social change?

When people write poems or papers they are expressing their feelings in their own
personal way. We say that we are only persuaded into change by actions when
exactly it is the words that get us. The many writers we read about are doing
this to achieve a goal. They want their words to make a difference in the world that is still
growing today. So yes, I truly believe that words in writing can help with social change.
In the poem "The Bombing of Baghdad" written by June Jordan, she explained
every detail involved with that bombing or something. She stated things that people
wouldn’t have said out loud because it would have mad them sound bad. The poem stuck
out for me because I know when I read it gave me the chills, so imagine the thoughts
going through the peoples’ heads that actually witnessed it first hand. Like I mentioned
before, Jordan releases the truth that these people were unable to bear. her words are the
cause of these feelings, which means these words have changed peoples view on it all
A big speaker of our past time was Martin Luther King Jr. He risked his life for
the people he loved. King wanted everyone to see him as a hero not a man who was
bringing about corruption. The “I Had a Dream” speech that we all know very clear had
great words put into it. The thought that King had when doing this was to bring together
blacks and whites. His audience was moved by these words. whether they were the people
against his beliefs, or those who strongly followed him, they were all amazed by the
emotions and longing for peace king had. In the end his words meant something and got
across to these unloving people which results to today where there is little congregation.
The power in his words are what has done this.
What we teenagers need to do is understand the words which are being written.
Some of us take it as a task to read when we should be looking more into it. The words
are so in depths that it doesn’t translate into our minds as words wanting change. As for
other people reading, they feel the emotion which is put into the writing. One day it will
get across to every single person and maybe that’s when our world will be a better place.

The Price of a Child
When Ginnie, mother of 3 and aso a slave, finally realizes this can be her time

to escape she made the decision. As her and her two children waited in

Philadlepihas hotel to go to New York with her master, Jackson Pryor, she

knows this will be her break for freedom. She knows that this big step is going

to be very dangerous but more difficult than anything shes ever done before.

The one main thing that is holding her back is the thought of never seeing her

youngest son Benny. Ginnie hears about a man working in the hotel who may

be able to help her. News soon travels to the abolionists in Philadelpiha. Her

and her two children are soon put onto a ferry which was going to New York.

The differance was Jackson Pryor was no longer with them and they were now free.
Lorene Cory portrays a story of great bondage bwtween those who seem to find
love in all the wrong places. For example, she has the jealous slave wife who

has the idea to keep her child safe and also keep Ginnie under contorl. There is

also the Slave master who is the father of two of Ginnie's children. He will

never be remebered as thier father but as this horrible person that left scars for

her to always dream about. As I read i came to realize that the way Cory writes

her work is unique. Her characters are very down to earth and as you read you

get to know them more and more. You dont even become bored with thier

words even though at times it gets confusing and aslso theres always supense

going on in the readers head not knowing whats gonna happen next. Lorene

Cory speaks about Jackson as this Southernt slave holder you can just imageine

in your head. Like this guy who goes as if hes tuff just so he is repaected. On the

other hand, Pryor sees himself in a different perspective. He is actaully

confused by the esape of his slave who has been with him for years. He sees it

as her being given all she ever wnated but him getting this betrayal in return.

Pryor was raised as a slave holder so all he knows is how to treat them the

way he was tought. He thought in his mind that him and Ginnie had a close

bondage because of the comfortness she gave to him. Little did he know, the

comfortness was never given back to Ginnie. Ginnie's character is based on the

real Jane Johnson who was involved with the underground railroad. The way

she is descieded in the book is very brave. Though she may have been thinking

a lot about excaping she never really did it untill the day in Philadelpiha when

she felt the time was right. She knew she was putting herself and her three

childrean in danger but still went along with it knowing in her mind that in the

end it was all going to be alright.
These moments and partial parts from Still's thoughts are the body on which

Cary has put togethe rto show all the differnt kinds of drama which are within

this peice. One of the most gripping parts in the novel is Cary's way of putting

together with her imaginative about the trial. Cary begins the scene with

Mercer, a surprise witness, fighting with five other women for her freedom.

Mercer gets up on the stand very proudly as if knowing everything was going to

be alright. In the end Mercer was able to stay in Philadelpiha with a new

family. The new family started off with Manny Quick who was a hard worker

but also a tuff boss. Then there was his wife Della, son Tyree, and daughter

Harriet. The Quicks was very ncie to Mercer because of the generosity Mercer

gave to them. She helped with the cooking during the day while at night Mercer

studied the lessons given to her by Harriet who was a school teacher. Cary

growing up in Philadelphia helped a lot with writing this novel. She knew how

the communities and people were during the 1850s.
The Price of a Child is more then just a book on slavery. Its a real live story that
some can relate to. Having foes, jealousies, uncondition but unwilling loves,

betrayals, and dark family secrets . The mysteries that we just need to figure

out in this novel are unbeliveable. For a while Mercer is caught up in these

family matters. She falls in love with the sincere and passionate Tyree, but

loving a married man brings only brief happiness and much regret. Finally,

Mercer leaves Tyree and Philadelphia and heads for Canada to continue the

work of recreating herself as an independent woman. Cary is a wise storyteller

as we witnessed from this story.Her novel is an entertaining and serious

contribution The way things were in American past.