Sometimes people prefer to fully digest a text before responding to it; this activity aims to appease those of you who feel that way--you'll be able to think before you "speak."
I want you to think about your personal reaction to the book you're reading. What does it make you question (either things specifically about the book or about makind in general)? Do you have any visceral reactions (anger, sadness, etc.) when reading? While only one of the books in non-fiction, the common thread that links all of them is realism. How have the events of the text (so far) changed your view on whatever topic it explores?
Write a post that incorporates these ideas/topics (and anything else in relation to the book, really. These questions are just a starting point to get your wheels turning). After you've finished writing your reaction, respond to two other people's comments. Your comments must reflect higher-order thinking. For example, "I agree!" won't cut it.
Whenever I read Fahrenheit 451, I pick up a curious and rebellious vibe. The book is about the government controlling what the people know. This is unfair to the people because the government decided that citizens are not allowed to read books. The government sends firemen around to burn the books. In the books, people commit suicide because of the unfair government. Even the protagonist's wife almost dies.
ReplyDeleteFahrenheit 451 also makes me think about how corrupt governments are in real life. For example, fairly recently, there was a UFO sighting in Los Angeles, CA. The government claims it was a missile launch, but why would there be a missile being launched that close to civilization? The government in Fahrenheit 451 doesn't want people to know what happened in the past, so they lie and don't allow them to read books. It makes me think about how corrupt the world is and how the government can control anything that you know and they can tell you anything they want to, weather it is right or wrong.
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DeletePeople are killing themselves because they aren't happy, not because of the government. Yes, the government is the root of the problem but the people don't know that because they never think about anything other than fun. Everything in Guy's society is geared to keep people occupied, to have "fun", and to prevent people from thinking about anything important. Thinking about the important things is what makes people go nuts and kill themselves.
DeleteI agree with the government part of your post the hidden facts and truth has got to stop. people deserve to know about our world. Guy just needs to go savage and burn all the firemen and go done in history as the swaggiest rebel ever. the book also does give off that vibe of rebellious.
DeleteBut what good is burring all the firemen going to do? The average citizen has already turned away from reading books, and everyone is on-board with the idea that books are for burning. Like if you kill the first son of a King in an attempt to cut off the royal bloodlines, the second or third son can still step up and be the next king.
Delete@marry (happy late birthday)
DeleteThe people are killing themselves because of the government. They are unhappy because of the government so basically the government is the reason. However, I do agree that the government wants to keep them occupied so they do not stop to think "what is wrong with the world". People aren't having fun and they begin thinking about what the actual past was.
Mary*****
DeleteThe government doesn't want people to commit suicide though. Its like collateral damage.
DeleteIn the book "Speak," Melinda is going through a hard time already with starting high school, losing her friends, the party, and Andy. Heather irradiates me how she just left Melinda for The Martha's. They were truly becoming friends, but Heather is being manipulated by the want to be in a group and fit in somewhere. Melinda wants to fit it and wants her old life back, but she's scared to speak up. She's scared they won't believe her and think she's just searching for attention. Her parents think she is just misbehaving for attention already and she has no one to talk to. Plus her teachers are mean and cruel and the only nice one (Mr. Freeman) is going a little crazy.
ReplyDeleteThis book makes me question the morals of people. Why would you leave the only person who accepted you on the first day of a brand new school? Why would all your friends abandon you if you stop a party? Why didn't they try and ask what happened? They were best friends, or was Rachel (Rachelle) just faking it all these years. Why would a guy rape her then try and be all creepily nice and flirtatious to her? I just feel really bad for her. She's crushing under all the pressure and doesn't care anymore. She needs to just come out and tell everyone the truth and then move to a new place and get a fresh start,
Well maybe Heather just was being fake the entire time. Who knows why she left Melinda? Melinda lost her friends because she called the police and crashed the party, No one knows what happened. That is why nobody asked Melinda what was wrong with her, I highly agree on the part about her getting a new start, because if I fell in her shoes I would try to transfer schools or, at most, just run away.
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Delete@Kevin I don't think Heather was being fake or two-faced the whole time. Why would Heather buy her bell earrings? Why would she take the best friend necklace? Heather just wants a good image. She thinks high school is what sets up the rest of your life. She thinks what happens in high school stays forever.
DeleteI think she should have told someone that she was raped when she called to cops. if she called to cops she should have told not just called to cops for no reason because then people would fell bad for her. They wouldn't be mad that she called the cops if they knew why but since she didn't tell and just crashed the party she now has no friends. Heather was her only true friend she thought. It turns out heather wasn't a true friend because she left Melinda for the Martha's.
DeleteAlthough I agree with you about how Heather just wants to fit in, I think Heather will realize what she has done and remember Mel was the only one there for her other days. I see "the Martha's" leaving her out of the group in the near future and i just hope Mel still wants to be friends when Heather comes crawling back.
Delete@rachaelhayes
ReplyDeleteI enjoy the book Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson. I feel like i can relate to the protagonist, Melinda. She has things she does not talk about and is afraid of her fears,IT A.K.A Andy. This book give me thinking about what if Melinda got pregnant? would her life get harder? What if Melinda confronted Andy? Why is she questioning if she got rapped if she knows Andy did it? Why did Heather just leave Melinda, after everything Melinda has done for Heather.
I feel sorry for Melinda, because she struggles to just open her self and to just be herself like the way she used to be before she got raped. It is sad and i know she will speak up but if i were in her shoes, I would try to talk to someone about it. I can understand why Melinda does not speak up at first, because she does not think anyone will believe her.
The events in the book Speak has changed the way i originally saw the book. I can visualize someone or even myself going into the same hardships Melinda faces on a daily basis. It changes the topic of being fearful and scared to social anxiety among others. Melinda faces social anxiety every time she sees IT, Andy.
@Kevin
DeleteMelinda knows she got rapped, and she has social anxiety with everyone. She has problems talking in class and being herself. If Melinda did get pregnant, I think the story would be completely different. She'd get bullied more and people would think she's a bad kid, or believe she got rapped. I feel if she did get pregnant, she would try and get an abortion because her parents didn't know she went to the party and so she would deal with Andy's child.
I understand what your trying to say, but I feel like maybe Melinda would try to talk to someone if she were pregnant or maybe it would be harder than we think it is. I do not think that she would get bullied more. Possibly she would get advice or help from somebody. I think maybe if Melinda talked to someone even though she will maybe she would be ok.
Delete#Speak
I feel the same way. I just don't understand why she don't tell someone. It would make her life so much easier. I think it would be hard tot tell someone at first but when she told someone it would be easier because they would no why she called the cops and why she did what she did. heather had no right to do that to Melinda and I don't think that the Martha s are going to be Heathers true friends. They are just using her to get what they want when Melinda was truly her friend.
Delete**raped** (It's on the right post now)
DeleteAdd me @Kenya9973
ReplyDeleteI'm reading the book Night. I feel as if the world was kind of clueless to what the Germans were doing to these people. Someones religion should affect you if they aren't bothering you. Elie and his parents were going to leave before being taken away but they didn't want to have to give up everything. Personally i fell the same its hard to kind of stop everything that your doing and move on to another place. Having to start over is hard.
Elie and his father are really having to stick together now because his mom and his sister aren't with them anymore. He and his father are really trying to get through this together because they think that once the war is over that their going to get out. I feel like they should really join together because without each other their probably not going to make it. They see all these terrible things like people getting burned, shot, hung and worked to death. Even though Elie isn't hat old he still tries to be very strong for his father, mother and his sister. I feel like they are being very strong at this time because they don't even know what could be happening to their other family members.
Elie has changed a lot since he got separated from his mother and sisters. Also whenhe father got slapped
DeleteI don't understand how they could believe in God after they've had these horrible experiences. It's a wonder how they still would have faith after their whole family was exterminated. I agree with leaving everything and moving on to have a different kind of life, not knowing exactly what it is. Elie and his father were strong until the end. They were strong, they were strong until rescue came, they were strong even though they did not know if their family members were still alive in Birkenau.
DeleteI agree with you somewhat. I think that when you are facing something as bad as the concentration camp you shouldn't have a problem leaving.
DeleteAs I read the book Speak it makes me question things. When it talks about the party it confuses me. Her friends talk about how she called the cops and that's why no one is talking to her but if she called the cops why didn't she tell them that she was raped so they could help her. No one knows that she was raped but they no about the party. It also makes me wonder what if she got pregnant? What would she tell her parents? another part of the book that makes me wonder is when she goes to school and all of her friends are mad at her because she called the cops at the party and got them in trouble. Now they wont talk to her. It doesn't make since why she doesn't just tell her friends what happened so they would no why she called the cops and she would actually have someone to talk to instead of everyone at he school hating her.
ReplyDeleteI think her high school career would be so much better if she told someone that she was raped then something could be done about it. Her parents would have more sympathy for her and her parents would actually be nice to her if they knew what happened to her. They would probably be mad that she went and got drunk at a party but they would be sorry for her because she was raped. at that point there is nothing that she could have done bout it. She could have prevented it by not going to the party at all and she would still have friends and her parents wouldn't be mad at her. I think her life is about to change for the good. A boy in her class named David is talking to her and her art teacher is talking to her so I think her and David will start dating and all of his friends will be friends with her and she will become more popular. her days at school seem to be getting better when she goes to art class and to her class with David. Her art teacher is really impressed with hat she is doing in his class but he is a little crazy his self. I think Mr. Freeman he art teacher is going to end up going crazy.
@Madison I think she didn't tell anyone about being raped is because she was scared to face the fact. If she would have gotten pregnant, I think it would have kind of helped her. She would have had to tell people what happened and tell her parents, but at the same time it would have ruined her. Being forced to have Andy's child because she said her family is broke, so they couldn't afford an abortion.
DeleteMelinda and David would be a cute couple, but I think she's going to have a hard time trusting guys again. I would really like to think they do start dating. I hope they do to get her in his group of friends and have people to talk to.
Well if you got raped, would you tell someone? I know I would not. I feel like people do know that she got raped, it is just that nobody cares about her. She would probably tell the truth to her parents if she were pregnant. I agree on how Melinda would do better if get over it and told someone. Maybe David will go date Melinda but I think Melinda is just desperate, because she wanted him on Valentine's Day.
Delete#Thirsty #Desperate
Think about it. If you were raped, your attitude would completely change and you'd probably become a more humble, less outspoken person. I don't think it is as easy as you think to tell someone you were raped. I also don't think Mr. Freeman is going to go crazy. I think he is going to end up doing something really nice to Melinda because he doesn't look at her the way others do. Everyone sees Mel as "the snitch who called the cops" but he sees her as a talented young girl with potential in art.
DeleteI think that our book Night the main character Elie has changed a lot since he entered the camp. At first, before he entered the concentration camp he was brave, strong and fearless. Now ever since his father got slapped by a Gypsy he has changed. Now Elie no longer speaks up for what he believes is right.
ReplyDeleteElie clearly says "only yesterday, I would have dug my nails into this criminals flesh." This is a good example that shows how much he has changed in the book so far. Concentration camps are a very horrible place so i can pretty much understand why Elie has changed. He is doing it so he can survive the camp.
@Simone he really has changed like when his father gets slapped he says before he would have fought the person but then he just stood there.
DeleteI agree with you completely. Elie was so head strong going imto the concentration camp. He didn't even understand why his dad was crying before they left to go. Now he is understands how severe his situation is.
Deletei would like to also add how he like was mad at his father when he got beaten. like he was really upset because he wondered why he would make the officer mad. i can kind of relate because its only going to make it worst on all the other people there.
DeleteI agree with you completely. Elie was so head strong going imto the concentration camp. He didn't even understand why his dad was crying before they left to go. Now he is understands how severe his situation is.
DeleteHe has changed, he changed throughout just one night. In that night, so many things happen, it is easy to understand why he has changed.
DeleteI felt bad when I first began reading the book. When Elie was describing Moishe the Beadle's life. Elie said that Moishe "was poor and lived in utter penury." But as I read and realized that Moishe warned all the Jews around him about his experience at the camp, and they refused to listen to him. The other Jews even called him crazy and said he just wanted their pity. Later I felt sorry for Elie because he had watch his friend and family get sent away. I was also angry when Elie's dad got slapped just for asking to use the toilet.
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Delete@Ashunti Mitchell i feel the same because now their in the camps but they had so many little opportunities to get away but they missed them.
Delete@Ashunti Mitchell
DeleteI agree with you it is good that moishe tried to warn the jews they just didn't listen
@ kenya sands
Deletebecause they thought that Moshie was crazy
and like how the police knocked on the window and they didn't answer. they could've moved away when they had the chance. it makes me very mad at the book (lol). Seriously i feel like they could've kept themselves out of the situation that they are stuck in.
DeleteFahrenheit 451 has been a very interesting read so far. Guy should have just hide the books I mean why even pull them out of the vent. I think the world that Guy lives in could possible happen if the government keeps hiding and extorting information for is citizens. I don't see how Guy and Faber are going to sneak books into the fire houses I mean they have hounds and there are a lot of firemen there.
ReplyDeleteI believe guy should just go back to work turn in his books and when the other firemen don't expect it burn them alive. I also hope guys wife dies she adds no benefit to the story except for a wife. The story so far is leading up to me quitting this book I need some action in the next couple of days please. The book is probable going to have a sucky ending. I believe this book just has to many wrong turns.
I think you just want Guy to give up and give in to the pressures of the government and not stand up for what he thinks is right. Guy has a backbone and isn't letting the government just run him over and put him on a shelf. He's made a lot of mistakes, that's true, but he's made all the right mistakes and that's what's important.
DeleteThe reason guy pulled the books out was to show his wife. He believes that the only way they can fix their marriage. However, I agree that the government is doing wrong by not allowing the citizens to read books. I think that guy could very possibly sneak a book in there, but he would have to alter the hound to make sure it doesn't attack him. I also believe that he should just burn his books before the other firemen do but this books does get boring at some parts. I will agree with you on that.
DeleteHis wife is crazy and they aren't going fix that relationship.
DeleteI really like 1984 because of how well the author created the scenario. Because the government doesn't want people to rebel, they give everyone the bare minimum necessary to survive. In Goldstein's book, Chapter 3 (War is Peace), Developed a really good point about why the government was constantly at war. War destroys any surplus of goods that otherwise would increase the standard of living for people in Oceania. Even though no one in this society is really happy, the government's control is never questioned because the people don't know what it means to be happy.
ReplyDeleteWinston is pretty lucky that he remembers his childhood, because this gives him hope that someday Big Brother will be defeated/ murdered/ gotten rid of. However, in remembering his childhood, he is haunted with memories of a place and time better than his current station. Winston's predicament is knowing that something is very wrong, not know quite what it is though, and not knowing what to do about it. Joining the Brotherhood and spending time with Julia are Winston's way of rebelling without dying.
I really do like the book we are reading, Speak. I can relate to Melinda because she called the cops about the party, but i feel like she really should have told someone she was raped. I understand where she is coming from (not telling anyone she was raped) but the way she describes her friends (before she called the cops at the party) she would have been able to tell one of her most trusted friends she was raped because rape is a serious subject. I guess i can't really say she should have told her parents about the party and being raped because I've never been in her situation. Though i do understand why she didn't tell anyone, I honestly feel like there is SOMEONE out there i would have been able to tell because what if she got pregnant? Wouldn't she absolutely have to tell her parents she was raped? Would they even believe her?
ReplyDeleteTwo things in the book so far have really made me mad. One of them being how Heather completely ditched Mel for "the Martha's" because Mel supposedly made her look bad since she always "looks depressed." I really thought Mel and Heather were going to be best friends and Heather might show Mel the happier side to life. I thought Mel might even grow close enough to Heather that she might tell Heather about being raped and everything would have worked out. Maybe Heather might see what she lost and go running back to Mel. The other thing that makes me mad is how IT (Andy) can act the way he does. He acts like nothing ever happened, and if it did, it was funny to him. If I were Mel at the coffee shop and IT spoke to me, I would have thrown a donut at IT and ran as fast as i could.
I thought about what it would be like if she would have told her parents. Wouldn't she have at least a few more friends? Wouldn't she still have at least a little bit of self confidence? Wouldn't she be less depressed if at all? Wouldn't IT be in a juvenile detention center?