Month: November 2023

PW#3 Rich Shang Dynasty

Shang Dynasty, also well known as Yin Shang Dynasty, which was second dynasty of Chinese history, it was meaningful because it pioneered the trade system in Chinese history. That’s also one of the reason that the dynasty was named as “Shang”, in Chinese the spelling of trade was exactly Shang.

The creator of Shang, Wang Hai pioneered Chinese commercial trade, so he is revered as the ancestor of Chinese merchants. At the same time, because Wang Hai is also the ancestor of the Shang Dynasty, this trading activity is called commerce, and the origin of merchants’ goods is also the same. During the period of King Zhou of the Shang Dynasty, commerce and trade had become an important part of the social structure. Xiqi gradually became stronger due to the rise of commerce, threatening the rule of the Yin Shang Dynasty.

The end of Xia Dynasty, the King Xia Jie be specially fond of and trust unduly his Queen Mei Xi, and increase the tax of other tribes in his territory. People don’t have great time due to the high tax. At this time the tribe Shang had keep advancing, noble Yi Sun had giving Shang Tang a lot of great advices and sent the first spy of Chinese history into Xia. Finally on BC 1600, they assault XIa Dynasty which lead the famous battle of Mingtiao。

At Battle of Mingtiao, Shang Tang lead 6000 army and other tribes military powers to detour from the back of Xia Jie and have final battle in Mingtiao and destroy the main army of Xia Jie, XIa Jie escape to Nan Chao and die due to the disease.

Because Shang Tang destroyed Xia by force and broke the idea that the king would be eternal, it was called the “aristocratic revolution” in history. After Tang established the Shang Dynasty, he relaxed internal expropriation, encouraged production, and appeased the people, thereby expanding his ruling area and influencing as far as the upper reaches of the Yellow River. The Di and Qiang tribes came to pay tribute and submit.
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Matteo Eden IRJE #3 Stone Fox

“Stone Fox” by John Reynolds Gardiner is a very exciting and thrilling tale that follows a young boy named Little Willy and his loyal dog Searchlight as they enter a dogsled race in an attempt to save their farm from financial collapse.  Gardiner creates an excellent narrative that explores themes of determination, courage, and the unbreakable bond between humans and animals. The author’s descriptions of the long race and the harsh winter create a powerful atmosphere that immerses readers in the story. leaving readers with a lasting impression.

“When you’re out there with the lead dog, you can’t ever stop and look back, ’cause there’s always someone or something gaining on you.”

This quote captures the key component of the novel, showing the importance of perseverance and forward momentum in the face of adversity. “Stone Fox” is a timeless and emotionally testing story that is great for readers of all ages, delivering a powerful message about the strength that lies within the human heart.

PW #3 “Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee”

Muhammad Ali, the legendary boxer and charismatic figure, serves as a symbol of resilience and self-belief. Beyond his skills in the boxing ring, Ali’s life is a testament to the power of conviction and the courage to stand up for one’s principles. His famous words, “Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee”, not only encapsulate his boxing style but also reflect a philosophy of grace and strength in the face of challenges. Ali’s journey from adversity to triumph inspires us to embrace our uniqueness, fight for what we believe in, and, above all, to have the unwavering confidence to conquer life’s ring with resilience and a sense of purpose.

IRJE #3 The seven husbands of Evelyn Hugo

“You can be sorry about something and not regret it,” Evelyn says.”
― Taylor Jenkins Reid, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo

In this parts Evelyn talks about the things she had to do to success in the film industry, this quote really stick to me because I found it really real, in life things would happen that makes you feel sad, sorry, angry; but deep down you know they needed to happen so you can be able to be the person you are now, you’ll have to do things that will hurt others, but those thing have to be done so you don’t get hurt, people should learn to put themselves first and accept that somethings are meant to happen even if they hurt.

IRJE #3 (If he had been with me)

I’m reading the novel “If he had been with me” and so far so good, I love the connection that Finny and Autumn have even though in the part of the book that I´m at they don’t really hang out much.

“I sat with him for three hours and we did not exchange a single word. At the end, he handed me, as he had done before, an envelope with money in it.” pp. 206.

I love this quote because it shows how people can still connect after years of not “knowing each other” and how you can connect with someone and get to know them even though you do not exchange a single word.

Asia’s IRJE#3

 

But sometimes you can’t control where your mind goes. You just have to train it not to go there anymore.

 The quote expresses the idea that certain thoughts and memories can be difficult to control or suppress, but with practice and effort, it is possible to train the mind to avoid dwelling on them. It suggests that our thoughts and emotions are within our control, and we have the power to shape them for our benefit. The quote is from the book “It Ends with Us” by Colleen Hoover and is spoken by the character Lily in a letter to Ellen.

IRJE#2 It ends with us

 

I recently started reading the book “It Ends with Us” written by Colleen Hoover. The book tells the story of a young woman named Lily who finds herself caught in a love triangle between two men – one of which is her first love, and the other is a mysterious stranger. As the story unfolds, Lily discovers secrets from the past that threaten to disrupt her present and possibly her future. The book explores themes of love, loss, forgiveness, and the complexities of relationships.

I feel like everyone fakes who they are when deep down we’re all equal amounts of screwed up. Some of us are just better at hiding it than others.

~Colleen Hoover, It Ends with Us, (Character: Lily Bloom as the narrator), Chapter 1, Page 16

This quote expresses the idea that people often pretend to be someone they are not and that everyone has their flaws and struggles. The quote suggests that despite our differences, we are all fundamentally the same in that we all experience challenges and imperfections. The difference lies in how well we can conceal our flaws from others. The quote implies that it is important to be authentic and honest with oneself and others, rather than trying to present a perfect image.

IRJE #3 Accountability.

Lately I have been reading the book of “Twelve and a half” from Gary Vaynerchuk. This book is about the important values in business success and also in life. I got a little quote that goes like this.

“I prefer to die by my own sword than from someone else’s.”

This quote is from the chapter called “Accountability” which it explains that is very to fail because of your own desicions, beliefs and actions than from someone else’s, like you have to be independent and take moves by yoursefl and if you fail it would be only your responsability.

 

IRJE #3: Crimson Rain Sought Flower

I continued reading the Chinese novel from my past entry. It’s called “Heaven Official’s Blessing” (天官賜福) by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu (莫想童秀). The story is really interesting. I always enjoy reading about deities and this book is not the exception. In this quotation, we have the main characters talking. The one referred as “the youth” is young man who was friends with the main character, the one who is a God who was fallen from the heavens multiple times.

In the mortal Realm, it was easy to find books on lore that spoke of the stories of gods and ghosts, the subjects ranging from their kindness and grudges to trivialities. Some were real and some fake. It wasn’t odd that the youth knew so much.

Xie Lian put down his scroll “Then, my friend, you know about gods, but do you know about ghosts too?”

“Which ghost?” the youth asked.

Xie Lian replied, “Crimson Rain Sought Flower, Hua Cheng.” (p.172)

I chose this fragment because of the philosophy it is talking about. Is everything that we read about the gods real? How can we know when it’s not?

This quotation contains the first mention of Hua Chen. He’s relevant for the novel since his first apparition. We could say he’s also one of the main characters.

IRJE#3

Lately I’ve been reading a new book called “Night” by Elie Wiesel. This book  “Night” is the terrifying record of Elie Wiesel’s memories of the death of his family. I got this small paragraph that I love how he describes it. It goes like

  Crammed into cattle cars by the Hungarian police, they cried silently. Standing on the station platform, we too were crying. The train disappeared over the horizon; all that was left was thick, dirty smoke.                                                                  p.6

I love the short paragraph because of hoe descriptive it is and I hope I can have writing like this after reading an image would pop up in the reader’s head so I will improve until I can do that

IRJE #3 – Stay away

In this quote from the book I’m currently reading The Hawthorne Legacy by Jennifer Lynn Barnes, one of the a potential moles in the Hawthorne house is scolding the main character.

“You should be ashamed of yourself,” Mrs. Laughlin said fiercely. “Playing with an old woman’s feelings like that. And dragging the boys into whatever you were doing in Toby’s wing? It’s cruel is what it is.” p.g. 44

This quote just gives a brief insight of how the members of the Hawthorne house feel about Avery Grambs and they judge her even without getting to know her. Most of them just want her to stay away but that’s almost impossible for Avery, because she has a mystery to solve.

IRJE #3: Keeping Memories Alive

My next IRJE is from “The Kalahari Typing School for Men,” the fourth book in the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series by Alexander McCall Smith. The series follows Mma Ramotswe, a detective running the No.1 Ladies’ Detective Agency in Botswana, and her fiancé Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni, who runs a garage. Mma Ramotswe was hired by a man named Mr. Molefelo to find the people he had once stolen a radio from in for him order to make amends, and in the following paragraph she reflects on it:

“The more she thought about Mr. Molefelo, the more she admired what he had done in coming to see her. Most do not bother with the really old wrongs; many forget them entirely, whether deliberately – if you can make a deliberate effort to forget – or by allowing the past to fade of its own accord. Mma Ramotswe wondered whether people have a duty to keep memories alive, and had decided that they have. Certainly the old beliefs were that those who had gone before should be remembered (p. 107-108).”

In this paragraph, we can see Mma Ramotswe as she reflects on what happened that day, and the philosophies which she holds. The things that I like the most about this series are the slices of life in every page and that Mma Ramotswe often “muses” to herself about things in life. While these things aren’t rather important for the story, they add a element of realism. They also characterize her – for example, showing that she holds a strong belief in the old ways of her ancestors. They demonstrate Mma Ramotswe’s wisdom, allowing the reader see how she thinks and contrast the way that she thinks about things to the way we usually do in Canada and the US. Many times, the more modern and “advanced” isn’t always better.

Sam’s IRJE#3

Right now I am reading “Be Useful: Seven Tools For Life” by Arnold Schwarzenegger. This book is a raw, honest, guide book with honest advice from, arguably, the most successful man in the world, for leading a strong, successful life.

It’s not to tell you what to build, it’s to show you how to build and why it matters.

I love this quote from his book because it shows that you are not going to have everything in life handed to you, so you must take the pieces that are given to you and use them to build stronger.

 

IRJE#3 Hunger Games

I just finished reading the Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. If I am being honest I could not stop reading it. This book is about Katniss Everdeen a girl that volunteers so that her little sister would not be a  participant in the hunger games.  A game you fight till death. While she was in the games, Katniss made a friend, Rue. Rue remembered Katniss about her sister, Prim. When Rue’s got killed she was unmotivated, and uncaring about her own life.

I’ve lost the will to do the simplest tasks, to do anything but lie here, staring unblinkingly through the canopy of leaves. For several hours I remain emotionless. As usual, it’s the thought of Prim’s anxious face as she watches me on the screens back home that breaks me from my lethargy. (p. 248)

After reading the whole book this is definitely one of my favorite parts. Just from the thought of her sister, Katniss starts to motivate and fight for her life again. My both sister Ines and Melissa, are that for me. My sisters are my best friends, and honestly one of my biggest joys in my life. Thinking just about them makes every situation better, and if I had to think of something for motivation they will always be one of my first choices.

IRJE “Girl” By Amelie

The book that I’m reading Do not say we have nothing by Madeleine Thien is about a girl called Jiang Li-ling or Marie; her English name. In the book she lives in Vancouver with her mother who moved from Hong-Kong. Her father had died when she was only ten and all Li-ling has is her mother. Li-ling and her mother’s relationship is complicated as they used to be close, but the death of Li-Ling’s father made her mother more distant and professional. Soon when Li-ling is older her mother tells her that her cousin Ai-Ming is going to be living with them. Once Ai-Ming arrives Li-Ling is distant but soon grows fond of Ai-Ming’s company and the two develop a bond.

” Ai-Ming told me that I would always be family to her, I would always be her little sister, Ma-li, Marie, Girl. With my many names, I felt like a tree with crowns of branches.” (pp. 53)

This quote in page 53 is greatly significant to me because It captures just how many names Li-Ling has. It was strange for me to hear at first, most people only had one name. In here she has many, as a daughter of a immigrant parent with a Chinese name. Ai-Ming called her Ma-li because she couldn’t pronounce Marie, and her mother called her “girl”. This was especially confusing for me because I have never once heard someone be called ‘Girl’ or ‘Boy’ before in real life. I’m not exactly sure for the reason, however I can draw the conclusion that her mother only called her girl in the presence of other people (Ai-Ming) and called her Marie or Li-Ling when they were alone.

IRJE #3 Book Lovers

I’m currently reading a book called Book Lovers by Emily Henry. Overall it was quite fun but I’ve noticed that when there is a quotation the author loves to make it as funny as possible. This is one of my favourite quotations from the book.

After paying for my iced Americano at Mug + Shot, ask the chipper barista with the septum piercing for the Wi-Fi password.
“Oh!” She gestures to a wooden sign behind her reading, Lets unplug! “No Wi-Fi here. Sorry.”
“Wait,” I say, “really?”
She beams. “Yep.”
I glance around. No laptops in sight. Everyone here looks like they came straight from climbing Everest or doing drugs in a Coachella yurt. (p.g116)
After reading this I feel connected to the real world and how everyone these days actually needs the internet. Feels like the internet is taking over control of us but it is also in good use for technology and the internet. But sometimes the internet is too addictive. But overall it is quite a funny quotation from Book Lovers. I recommend people who love rom-coms read this book.

 

PR to “All quiet in the Western Front”

“All Quiet on The Western Front” is not only a novel, It’s a profound book that inspires and Informs about the devastating and cruel realities of WW. The book really immersed me in the horrors of the war, leaving an impact on my thoughts and mind.

The novel took me all the way to the 20th Century, I felt like I was right there in the middle of the war full of chaos and just thinking about it gives me goosebumps.

I really felt a genuine connection with The Characters in the book, especially Paul.

I remember that one scene that hit me was when the soldiers were on the front lines, and they had a gas attack.

Remarque described it so detailed and vividly that I felt like I could smell the gas and feel the panic they were living. I really couldn’t believe how inhuman and brutal the war was.

What really hit me hard throughout the book is how brutally honest the book was. Remarque wasn’t trying to make the war look like some adventure, he was telling the truth. He basically ripped off the mask of the war and showed how nasty and raw the war was.

In my opinion, the title of the novel “All Quiet on the Western Front” is like a joke. Even in the moments when you are supposed to be off guard, you are looking desperately for a little bit of peace. Maybe it refers to a dream or goal but not the reality.

Another scene that really stuck with me was when Paul goes back home but he can’t connect with anyone and he doesn’t understand them. I feel like I can understand him because after everything that he went through his mind will not be in the same place as people who didn’t go to the war.

When Paul died I thought I was imagining what I was reading but after a few moments I realized it was real, the book doesn’t have a happy ending and Paul’s death, in my opinion, is one of the examples of the violence and destruction the war brought. 

It symbolizes many other soldiers who died in the war because, like Paul, there are many more. His death was a real but haunting conclusion. It left me thinking and reflecting on the impact of the war on those who experienced it.

When I read the Novel I couldn’t help but get hit with many thoughts and feelings about Paul and the war. I think for me and many people, it was a reminder of how messed up the war was and how surprisingly it messes with people like us. It’s a powerful book that reminded me some truths about what it’s like to be human. 

IRJE #3 – Emma – Personal Growth and Backhanded Words

Currently I am reading the novel entitled « Emma » by Jane Austen. This novel is set in the early 19th century and tells the story of an adolescent girl named Emma Woodhouse who constantly tries to set up her friends and sees herself as a matchmaker. Although she is not very good at it and has some misplaced confidence in herself her attempts at setting up her friends almost always go wrong. For example in this quotation Emma has just become a bit more self aware after she had said something rude to Miss Bates at their picnic and being scolded by Mr. knightly.

“She was vexed beyond what could have been expressed—almost beyond what she could conceal. Never had she felt so agitated, so mortified, grieved, at any circumstance in her life. She was most forcibly struck. The truth of his representation there was no denying. She felt it at her heart. How could she have been so brutal, so cruel to Miss Bates! How could she have exposed herself to such ill opinion in any one she valued! And how suffer him to leave her without saying one word of gratitude, of concurrence, of common kindness!”

This quotation shows two main parts of this story. Firstly Emma’s growth as she’s realizing how rude she was and is to many people. Secondly, this story shows the way in which wealthier people acted in the early 19th century. Often times people would think the lower class people are all foulmouthed. However, the upper class had much more detrimental comments. This quotation is a great example as the insult Emma has said took Miss Bates a moment to even realize she was being insulted.

IRJE #3 – The Murderer

The book I am reading is called Drive your Plough Over the Bones of the Dead, and this is a pivotal moment in the book as it finally reveals the murderer of four people.

I have Mercury in retrograde, so I’m better at expressing myself in writing than speech. I could have been a pretty good writer. But at the same time I have trouble explaining my feelings and the motives for my behaviour. I had to tell them, but at the same time I couldn’t tell them. How was I to put it all in words? Out of sheer loyalty I had to explain to them what I had done before they found out from others. But Dizzy spoke first.

“We know it’s you,” he said. “That’s why we came today. To make a decision.”

When I read this I felt a feeling of satisfaction, yet curiosity. Why did Janina murder all of these people? Is she crazy? Later on in the book she explained that both her dogs were hunted and killed by those four men, which explained her motive. The author kept the entire book suspenseful, as it was written in such a way that you didn’t know who the killer was until it was finally revealed.

𝒜𝓈 𝒯𝒽𝑒 𝒟𝒶𝓎𝓈 & 𝒩𝒾𝑔𝒽𝓉𝓈 𝐵𝓁𝑒𝑒𝒹 𝒯𝑜𝑔𝑒𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓇 – 𝐼𝑅𝒥𝐸#𝟥

𝙸 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚛𝚎𝚌𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚕𝚢 𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚟𝚒𝚗𝚌𝚎𝚍 𝚋𝚢 𝚊 𝚏𝚎𝚠 𝚙𝚎𝚎𝚛𝚜 𝚘𝚏 𝚖𝚒𝚗𝚎 𝚝𝚘 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚊𝚜𝚙𝚒𝚛𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗𝚊𝚕 𝚊𝚞𝚝𝚘𝚋𝚒𝚘𝚐𝚛𝚊𝚙𝚑𝚢 𝚋𝚢 𝙳𝚊𝚟𝚒𝚍 𝙶𝚘𝚐𝚐𝚒𝚗𝚜, 𝙲𝚊𝚗’𝚝 𝙷𝚞𝚛𝚝 𝙼𝚎. 𝙳𝚊𝚟𝚒𝚍 𝙶𝚘𝚐𝚐𝚒𝚗𝚜 𝚒𝚜 𝚊 𝚄.𝚂. 𝙽𝚊𝚟𝚢 𝚂𝚎𝚊𝚕 𝚠𝚑𝚘𝚜𝚎 𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚒𝚛𝚎 𝚕𝚒𝚏𝚎 𝚒𝚜 𝚍𝚎𝚍𝚒𝚌𝚊𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚙𝚞𝚜𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚕𝚒𝚖𝚒𝚝𝚜 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚑𝚞𝚖𝚊𝚗 𝚋𝚘𝚍𝚢. 𝙷𝚒𝚜 𝚋𝚒𝚘𝚐𝚛𝚊𝚙𝚑𝚢 𝚍𝚎𝚙𝚒𝚌𝚝𝚜 𝚠𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝙸 𝚠𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍 𝚊𝚛𝚐𝚞𝚎 𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚝𝚠𝚘 𝚖𝚘𝚜𝚝 𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚖𝚎𝚗𝚍𝚊𝚋𝚕𝚎 𝚜𝚔𝚒𝚕𝚕𝚜, 𝚛𝚎𝚜𝚒𝚕𝚒𝚎𝚗𝚌𝚢 & 𝚍𝚒𝚜𝚌𝚒𝚙𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚎. 𝚃𝚑𝚛𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚗𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚕, 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚟𝚒𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚛 𝚒𝚜 𝚋𝚛𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝚞𝚙𝚘𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚓𝚘𝚞𝚛𝚗𝚎𝚢 𝚘𝚏 𝙳𝚊𝚟𝚒𝚍 𝙶𝚘𝚐𝚐𝚒𝚗𝚜 𝚊𝚜 𝚊 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚐 𝚖𝚊𝚗 𝚜𝚒𝚖𝚞𝚕𝚝𝚊𝚗𝚎𝚘𝚞𝚜𝚕𝚢 𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚗𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚑𝚘𝚠 𝚝𝚘 𝚗𝚊𝚟𝚒𝚐𝚊𝚝𝚎 𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚝𝚛𝚊𝚞𝚖𝚊 & 𝚙𝚛𝚎𝚓𝚞𝚍𝚒𝚌𝚎-𝚏𝚒𝚕𝚕𝚎𝚍 𝚕𝚒𝚏𝚎. 𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚗𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚕 𝚞𝚝𝚒𝚕𝚒𝚣𝚎𝚜 𝚌𝚘𝚞𝚛𝚜𝚎, 𝚍𝚒𝚛𝚎𝚌𝚝 𝚕𝚊𝚗𝚐𝚞𝚊𝚐𝚎 𝚠𝚑𝚒𝚌𝚑 𝚒𝚜 𝚗𝚘𝚝 𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚖𝚘𝚗𝚕𝚢 𝚜𝚝𝚞𝚖𝚋𝚕𝚎𝚍 𝚞𝚙𝚘𝚗 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚐𝚎𝚗𝚛𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝚜𝚎𝚕𝚏-𝚑𝚎𝚕𝚙 𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔𝚜. 𝙶𝚘𝚐𝚐𝚒𝚗𝚜 𝚒𝚗𝚝𝚛𝚘𝚍𝚞𝚌𝚎𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚟𝚒𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚛 𝚝𝚘 𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚍𝚢𝚜𝚏𝚞𝚗𝚌𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗𝚊𝚕 𝚏𝚊𝚖𝚒𝚕𝚢 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚏𝚒𝚛𝚜𝚝 𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚙𝚎𝚌𝚒𝚏𝚒𝚌𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚢 𝚏𝚘𝚌𝚞𝚜𝚎𝚜 𝚘𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚙𝚑𝚢𝚜𝚒𝚌𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚢 𝚊𝚋𝚞𝚜𝚒𝚟𝚎 𝚗𝚊𝚝𝚞𝚛𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚏𝚊𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚝𝚘𝚠𝚊𝚛𝚍𝚜 𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚖𝚘𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛. 𝙶𝚘𝚐𝚐𝚒𝚗𝚜’ 𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚖𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚊𝚛𝚢 𝚘𝚗 𝚊 𝚌𝚑𝚒𝚕𝚍’𝚜 𝚖𝚘𝚛𝚊𝚕 𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚙𝚊𝚜𝚜 𝚒𝚜 𝚊 𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚝𝚎𝚖𝚎𝚗𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝙸 𝚏𝚒𝚗𝚍 𝚊𝚜𝚝𝚘𝚗𝚒𝚜𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚕𝚢 𝚜𝚝𝚛𝚊𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚠𝚊𝚛𝚍 𝚢𝚎𝚝 𝚙𝚎𝚛𝚙𝚕𝚎𝚡𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚍𝚞𝚎 𝚝𝚘 𝚖𝚢 𝚛𝚎𝚜𝚘𝚗𝚊𝚗𝚌𝚎 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚝𝚎𝚖𝚎𝚗𝚝.

“𝙸𝚝’𝚜 𝚊𝚕𝚖𝚘𝚜𝚝 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎, 𝚗𝚘 𝚖𝚊𝚝𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚠𝚑𝚘 𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚙𝚊𝚛𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚜 𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚘𝚛 𝚠𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚢 𝚍𝚘, 𝚠𝚎’𝚛𝚎 𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚋𝚘𝚛𝚗 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚊 𝚖𝚘𝚛𝚊𝚕 𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚙𝚊𝚜𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝’𝚜 𝚙𝚛𝚘𝚙𝚎𝚛𝚕𝚢 𝚝𝚞𝚗𝚎𝚍. 𝚆𝚑𝚎𝚗 𝚢𝚘𝚞’𝚛𝚎 𝚜𝚒𝚡, 𝚜𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚗, 𝚘𝚛 𝚎𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝚢𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚜 𝚘𝚕𝚍, 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠 𝚠𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚏𝚎𝚎𝚕𝚜 𝚛𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚠𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚏𝚎𝚎𝚕𝚜 𝚠𝚊𝚢 𝚘𝚏𝚏. 𝙰𝚗𝚍 𝚠𝚑𝚎𝚗 𝚢𝚘𝚞’𝚛𝚎 𝚋𝚘𝚛𝚗 𝚒𝚗𝚝𝚘 𝚊 𝚌𝚢𝚌𝚕𝚘𝚗𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚛𝚘𝚛 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚙𝚊𝚒𝚗, 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠 𝚒𝚝 𝚍𝚘𝚎𝚜𝚗’𝚝 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚝𝚘 𝚋𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚢, 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚝𝚛𝚞𝚝𝚑 𝚗𝚊𝚐𝚜 𝚊𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎 𝚊 𝚜𝚙𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚒𝚗 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚓𝚊𝚌𝚔𝚎𝚍 𝚞𝚙 𝚖𝚒𝚗𝚍. 𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚌𝚊𝚗 𝚌𝚑𝚘𝚘𝚜𝚎 𝚝𝚘 𝚒𝚐𝚗𝚘𝚛𝚎 𝚒𝚝, 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚍𝚞𝚕𝚕 𝚝𝚑𝚛𝚘𝚋𝚋𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚒𝚜 𝚊𝚕𝚠𝚊𝚢𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚊𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚍𝚊𝚢𝚜 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚗𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚜 𝚋𝚕𝚎𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚘𝚐𝚎𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚒𝚗𝚝𝚘 𝚘𝚗𝚎 𝚋𝚕𝚞𝚛𝚛𝚎𝚍 𝚖𝚎𝚖𝚘𝚛𝚢.” (𝚙𝚐.𝟸𝟸)

𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚚𝚞𝚘𝚝𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗 𝚒𝚜 𝚘𝚗𝚎 𝙸 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚌𝚑𝚘𝚜𝚎𝚗 𝚝𝚘 𝚏𝚎𝚊𝚝𝚞𝚛𝚎 𝚜𝚙𝚎𝚌𝚒𝚏𝚒𝚌𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚢 𝚍𝚞𝚎 𝚝𝚘 𝚒𝚝𝚜 𝚊𝚜𝚝𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚍𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚊𝚋𝚒𝚕𝚒𝚝𝚢 𝚝𝚘 𝚎𝚟𝚘𝚔𝚎 𝚜𝚞𝚌𝚑 𝚛𝚊𝚠 𝚎𝚖𝚘𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗𝚜 𝚒𝚗 𝚊 𝚖𝚊𝚗𝚗𝚎𝚛 𝚜𝚘 𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚙𝚛𝚎𝚑𝚎𝚗𝚜𝚒𝚋𝚕𝚎 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚎𝚗𝚐𝚊𝚐𝚒𝚗𝚐. 𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚗𝚘𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚘𝚗𝚎 𝚒𝚜 𝚋𝚘𝚛𝚗 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚊𝚗 𝚊𝚞𝚝𝚘𝚖𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚌𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚢 𝚏𝚞𝚗𝚌𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚖𝚘𝚛𝚊𝚕 𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚙𝚊𝚜𝚜 𝚒𝚗 𝚖𝚢 𝚘𝚙𝚒𝚗𝚒𝚘𝚗 𝚒𝚜 𝚍𝚎𝚋𝚊𝚝𝚊𝚋𝚕𝚎 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚗𝚞𝚖𝚎𝚛𝚘𝚞𝚜 𝚜𝚌𝚒𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚒𝚏𝚒𝚌 𝚜𝚝𝚞𝚍𝚒𝚎𝚜 𝚊𝚛𝚐𝚞𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚘𝚗 𝚎𝚒𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚜𝚒𝚍𝚎. 𝙸 𝚊𝚖 𝚌𝚑𝚘𝚘𝚜𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚘 𝚏𝚘𝚌𝚞𝚜 𝚘𝚗 𝙶𝚘𝚐𝚐𝚒𝚗𝚜’ 𝚊𝚋𝚒𝚕𝚒𝚝𝚢 𝚝𝚘 𝚠𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚎 𝚜𝚞𝚌𝚑 𝚊 𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚙𝚕𝚎𝚡 𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚝𝚎𝚖𝚎𝚗𝚝 𝚒𝚗 𝚊 𝚠𝚊𝚢 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚞𝚜𝚎𝚜 𝚍𝚎𝚜𝚌𝚛𝚒𝚙𝚝𝚒𝚟𝚎 𝚕𝚊𝚗𝚐𝚞𝚊𝚐𝚎 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚛𝚎𝚖𝚊𝚒𝚗𝚜 𝚍𝚒𝚛𝚎𝚌𝚝. 𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚎𝚡𝚊𝚌𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚎𝚖𝚘𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗 𝚒𝚜 𝚘𝚗𝚎 𝙸 𝚏𝚒𝚗𝚍 𝚖𝚢𝚜𝚎𝚕𝚏 𝚙𝚘𝚗𝚍𝚎𝚛𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚘𝚏𝚝𝚎𝚗 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚊𝚖 𝚚𝚞𝚒𝚝𝚎 𝚏𝚊𝚖𝚒𝚕𝚒𝚊𝚛 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑. 𝚃𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚎, 𝙸 𝚊𝚖 𝚝𝚛𝚞𝚕𝚢 𝚍𝚒𝚜𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚌𝚎𝚛𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚊𝚋𝚒𝚕𝚒𝚝𝚢 𝚝𝚘 𝚍𝚎𝚙𝚒𝚌𝚝 𝚒𝚝 𝚒𝚗 𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚜𝚝𝚛𝚊𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚠𝚊𝚛𝚍 𝚠𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚜𝚝𝚢𝚕𝚎 𝚠𝚑𝚒𝚕𝚎 𝚛𝚎𝚖𝚊𝚒𝚗𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚛𝚞𝚎 𝚝𝚘 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚎𝚡𝚙𝚎𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚗𝚌𝚎. 𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚝𝚎𝚖𝚎𝚗𝚝 𝚒𝚜 𝚗𝚘𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝚊𝚗 𝚎𝚡𝚎𝚖𝚙𝚕𝚊𝚛𝚢 𝚙𝚛𝚎𝚌𝚎𝚍𝚎𝚗𝚝 𝚒𝚗 𝚠𝚑𝚒𝚌𝚑 𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚠𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚜𝚝𝚢𝚕𝚎 𝚑𝚊𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚏𝚊𝚜𝚌𝚒𝚗𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚊𝚋𝚒𝚕𝚒𝚝𝚢 𝚝𝚘 𝚎𝚗𝚐𝚊𝚐𝚎 𝚟𝚒𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚛𝚜. 𝙰𝚕𝚋𝚎𝚒𝚝, 𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚠𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚜𝚝𝚢𝚕𝚎 𝚖𝚊𝚢 𝚗𝚘𝚝 𝚋𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚖𝚘𝚜𝚝 𝚙𝚛𝚘𝚏𝚎𝚜𝚜𝚒𝚘𝚗𝚊𝚕 𝚢𝚎𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚄.𝚂. 𝙽𝚊𝚟𝚢 𝚂𝚎𝚊𝚕 𝚠𝚑𝚘 𝚑𝚊𝚜 𝚋𝚎𝚎𝚗 𝚗𝚒𝚌𝚔𝚗𝚊𝚖𝚎𝚍 “𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚝𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚎𝚜𝚝 𝚖𝚊𝚗 𝚊𝚕𝚒𝚟𝚎”, 𝚑𝚊𝚜 𝚖𝚊𝚗𝚊𝚐𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚞𝚙 𝚝𝚘 𝚝𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚜𝚊𝚗𝚍𝚜 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚎𝚎𝚗𝚊𝚐𝚎𝚛𝚜 𝚠𝚑𝚘 𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚗𝚘𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎 𝚑𝚒𝚖 𝚏𝚒𝚗𝚍 𝚊 𝚠𝚊𝚢 𝚝𝚘 𝚛𝚎𝚜𝚘𝚗𝚊𝚝𝚎 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚠𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚝𝚎𝚗 𝚠𝚘𝚛𝚔.

IRJE #3 “The most terrific liar”

This quote reflects Holden’s struggle with saying the truth. His admission of being a “terrific liar” highlights his desire for genuineness and his coping mechanism to navigate a society he finds phony.

“I’m the most terrific liar you ever saw in your life. It’s awful. If I’m on my way to the store to buy a magazine, even, and somebody asks me where I’m going, I’m liable to say I’m going to the opera. It’s terrible.”

Holden’s tendency to lie serves him as a sort of defense mechanism, he uses it many times throughout the book and is very good at doing so.

IRJE #3. Holding up the universe

Currently, I am reading “Holding Up the Universe”. This book is about two teenagers, Libby Strout and Jack Masselin, and their complicated lives. This book is for everyone who doubts their place in the world.

Libby once said:

“I think what an amazing world this would be if we all danced everywhere we went.”

“Holding Up the Universe” is more about how there will always be a person who will judge you, but it does not have to stop you from doing things that you like.

IRJE#3 – Liath

<                    In the book ‘Hamilton’ by Ron Chernow, Alexander Hamilton is combatting the tyrannical oppression of the British rule. He recently wrote “Farmer’s Refuted” which consisted of multiple essays that criticized Samuel Seabury and how he claimed that their society was perfect. Hamilton, never taking a days rest, continued to fight for change by writing even more essays written under different pseudonyms.

———— “‘At times, he repeated his anti- “Farmer” essays almost verbatim, saying of the British ministry, “They have advanced too far to retreat without equal infamy and danger; their honor, their credit, their existence as ministers, perhaps life itself, depend upon their success in the present undertaking'” ———————————————————–

<                 Part of the reason that this section stood out to me was because they chose to use the word ‘verbatim’ which we just studied in our English class. Hamilton is quoting himself as many prolific writers did in that time. The rest of the quotation depicts Hamilton as the relentless revolutionary he always was. He exhibits so much optimism that showing resistance towards their oppressors will elevate and better their country. I am enjoying reading this book and even though its tough because their are many words I am unfamiliar with and so I have to re-read the sentences, I am grateful of it because I am learning a plethora of new vocabulary.

IRJE #3 – “So spake he…”

For my independent reading journal I have continued reading The Odyssey by Homer. Needless to say, progress has been a slow but enjoyable experience. At one point in the story, Menelaus tells Telemachus (very lengthily) how Aegisthus described the bloodshed that occurred at a feast meant to ambush someone. As a result, neither side had any surviving men. While reading this moment, I found one sentence from Menelaus that stuck out to me:

” ‘So spake he, and my spirit within me was broken, and I wept as I sat upon the sand, nor was I minded any more to live and see the light of the sun.’ ” (p. 60)

This sentence gives me a very vivid image of what Menelaus would have looked like in that moment. Although the writing only hints at his surroundings, my imagination fills in the rest. The way this moment is described makes me understand the crushing sorrow he must be feeling. The sentence is short and simple, but it is able to contain so much meaning that people can relate to. I’m lucky enough to have never had someone close to me killed, but I can imagine the grief felt by someone who experienced that.

IRJE #3 Every Summer After

For the lasts weeks I have been reading a book that is called every summer after, and in it I´ve could found many deep quotes that I still remembered and one of those is:

The way I felt about you was always so clear to me—even when we were young I knew you and I were meant for each other. Two halves of a whole. I loved you so much that the word ‘love’ didn’t seem big enough for how I felt. I did want you.

I just chose this quote because I felt it super deep because it is about two persons that are in love of each other, but they can’t be together and he is expressing to the girl the whole emotions that he have, so is an super painful story.

IRJE #3 All is Fair in Love and War

The book Foxglove by Adalyn Grace (Second book in the Belladonna series) follows the character Signa Farrow through the incredible journey of discovering her otherworldly abilities as the reincarnated embodiment of Life. In the first book it was assumed that Signa was a reaper just the same as her lover, Death. Death’s brother, Fate had previously loved Life for thousands of years in her past life and in the second book has shown his devotion to bringing back her memory of the love they once shared. Fate had just told her of his belief that she was his love reincarnated and has just started to attempt bringing back her memories.

“They say that all is fair in love and war. I have built my trench and brought my rifles, and I have no intention of retreating. I will pursue you until you remember who you are. If that means I need to court you, Signa Farrow, I will. Flowers, promenades, even poetry if that’s what you want. Whatever it is you enjoy, I will learn, and eventually you’ll remember the life we once had.”

This sentiment was memorable because of the determination and intensity that Fate spoke it with. The incomprehensible magnitude of the desire Fate holds for Life to remember the world changing love that they shared struck me with how rare that would be in the real world. I long to see someone who would tear down worlds for the one they love but alas, that is the life of a romance reader. I love the idea of a love so great you would defy Fate or even Death to be with the person you share it with.

IRJE #3 You’ve Reached Sam

For the past several weeks I have read the book of “You’ve >Reached Sam” The book has many quotes then remind me a lot of when I was back home, of missing memories and people and bringing the feeling of nostalgia.

“I listen to the message again. I listen to it on the way home, and several more times before I fall asleep. I listen to it the next morning when Mika comes over and I replay it for her. I listen to it again that night and the day after that. I listen to it on the days I miss Sam most and want to hear his voice again. I listen to his voice mail until I have it memorized, and I don’t need to play it anymore.”

I often find myself revisiting my own experiences and memories. I recall moments that have shaped me, like the melodies of a favorite song that refuse to fade away. They’re the stories I’ve replayed in my mind countless times, etching themselves into my very being.

As the days pass, my own memories become my refuge, especially during times of longing or nostalgia. They are the cherished moments that bring comfort when I miss the people and places I hold dear. Just as with that messages or voicemails, I have them memorized, etched into my heart.

In the end, like the enduring presence of those memories, my experiences and the people who have touched my life remain a part of me. They shape the person I’ve become, and their echoes resound in the way I live and love, in the way I connect with the world around me.

IRJE #3, The end.

This quote is from the book that I am currently reading and its called “Twisted Games”. It tells the story of a bodyguard that is in love with a princess that he is in charge of keeping safe but he fells in love with her. Even tough they can’t be together, they keep their love in secret.

“We always end up where we’re meant to be.”

(p. 176, Huang, A. Twisted Games. 2023)

I choose this quote because I am a big fan of the true love and I think this one is one of the best stories that I’ve ever read. It is a mix of feelings and the curiosity of not knowing what will happen next. I also liked this quote because it practically talks about how almost at the end of the story, they stay together because they are perfect for each other; they are meant to be. And such as in fairytales, true love always wins.

IRJE #3 – The Regret of Truth

I recently finished the historical fiction ‘Ashes in the Snow’, written by Oriana Ramunno. This 1943-based novel relays a murder mystery set in an Auschwitz Nazi concentration camp. The criminologist protagonist, Hugo Fischer, not only encounters a complex murder but discovers the truth of the harsh realities of the camp. Hugo himself faces a secret case of multiple sclerosis. As the book progresses he becomes increasingly desperate to keep secret his own debilitating condition, lest he become a target for the Reich. Unlike most WWI novels, ‘Ashes in the Snow’ incorporates a mystery thriller genre. As Hugo investigates the murder, the novel reveals the atrocities inflicted upon the prisoners, and is forced to decide what is most important to him. The following quote was voiced by Hugo when contemplating the mystery of the murder, as well as the unnerving instincts of the camp.

“A dead body is like the snow: sometimes, everything on the surface looks present and correct, perfect and clean. But it’s underneath that the murkiest things are concealed.” (pg. 54).

This quote was quite memorable because it expressed a message related to the murder mystery, and the history of Nazi Germany, but could also be connected to everyday thoughts. The truth, often concepts that are concealed, is a debatable subject. The truth is often more than initially appears but that may be argued as purposeful. The pursuit of truth often becomes obsessive yet can be better left unspoken. This quote demonstrates how something so inhospitable can easily be obscured by simple misconceptions. It teaches the reader how assumptions led to miscommunication, making us believe our story is the truth when in reality it’s falsehood. Don’t get me wrong, it is always important to learn the truth, but when concerned with your emotional morals, in some circumstances some things are better left unsaid. Similarly, in ‘Ashes in the Snow’, Hugo discovers that the Nazi concentration camps are committing inhumane experiments, but for his sake, he regrets learning the truth. As documented in the quote, the pristine white snow conceals the horror, but it pervades, nonetheless.

IRJE#3 – The Chrysalids

I have just started the Sci-Fi novel The Chrysalids by John Wyndham. It was bought and recommended to me by my father. He was in grade 10 when he read it and still stands that it is the best book he has ever read. Coming from a boy who was not academically inclined as he was, this means a lot. So, I have also decided to read it.

David, the protagonist, is sliding along a sandhill when he sees some rustling in the bushes beside him. He looks closer and sees a small girl with her head peaking out from the branches. As soon as she asses the situation  with the sliding and all, she asks him if it’s fun what he is doing. He says yes and so she tries it. The fearful look in her eyes immediately turn to wistful. A few moments later David finds her laying at the bottom of the hill with her foot stuck and tears in her eyes. He thinks to himself,

For almost the first time in my life I found myself in charge of a situation which needed a decision. I made it.

The first thing I thought of when I read this is how I feel when I babysit. For all my life I have been the one being taken care of and without responsibility. If ever something was to go wrong someone older, stronger and more mature would deal with it. Now, while babysitting I am taking care of children and the responsibility falls on me. It is a scary feeling when you realize this. It is like an automatic “grown-up” moment. In the end, I relate to how David feels and while I read the book I will take into consideration that he has a mature mind.

 

 

IRJE #3 – On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft

A short time ago, I read the book On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King. This biography allowed me to delve into the perspective of King, understanding his journey and perspective. Throughout the book, he separates his thoughts into neatly organized categories. First, he highlights events in his life that influenced his writing throughout the “C.V.” He then goes on to discuss why writing is so important and then the section, “On Writing,” where he provides his advice to aspiring writers. I began reading this book for my personal project, as writing is the focus, and it greatly supported me. Not only that, the quotes from the book inspired me. The following quote was one of the most resonating to me:

It is, rather, a kind of curriculum vitae – my attempt to show how one writer was formed. Not how one writer was made; I don’t believe writers can be made, either by circumstances or by self-will (although I did believe those things once). The equipment comes with the original package.

This phrase provides an insight into how Stephen King thinks, allowing the reader to contemplate and reflect upon the meaning behind his proclamations. With such few words, he encapsulates his whole belief in writing and his journey. He shares how writers cannot be made, only formed. This stuck with me, as it was a new idea that had never been introduced to me. Soon after he writes this phrase, he goes on to speak of what influenced his journey. He includes inspiration, luck, and a little talent. This also surprised me, as his unabashedness and transparency were unfamiliar to me. Overall, this book served the purpose that I was looking for and provided more than I could have hoped for; it fueled my desire to write.

PW#3

Picture 14

 

There once was a very estranged girl, who had become infatuated by the weird and exotic animals of the world. Her parents took quick notice of her estranged interests and quickly attempted to satisfy it.  They visited many different animal shops and bought as many strange and wacky animals as they could afford, but in the end they spent all their money. They brought home parrots, lemurs, iguanas, but none of them appeased the girl. This upsetted the girl as she loved her parents very much and wanted them to be happy, but she just could not love the animals. One night the girl woke up and went for a midnight walk to think things over, and she met an old crone who gave her an offer. She pulled out an albino ferret from a small leather bag and gave it to the girl. This ferret was very rare and made the little girl very famous. Her fame translated into lots of money which paid back for all the animas her parents bought her. She grew up with the ferret and eventually got a painting taken of her, which is now a picture in Mr.Macknights room.

PR#2 – All Quiet On The Western Front – Hurt People, Hurt People

“Hurt people, Hurt people” is a quote my father often refers to in hard times. It means that often when humans are hurting, usually meaning mentally hurting, we have tendencies to turn to others and take out our pain and anger on them. This can result in people being extremely angry and spreading that on, which in this case can lead to war.

The novel “All Quiet on the Western Front” by Erich Maria Remarque explores the topic of hurt in several ways. in the novel, the characters experience physical and emotional hurt in the harsh environment of the front.

In the novel, the young soldiers like Paul Baumer and his friends are put in extreme physical and emotional pain because of the brutality of the war. They witness the deaths of their friends and endure the constant fear and stress of combat. These experiences can leave deep scars and I believe they were extremely transformed by these happenings.

As a result of the trauma and suffering they endure, the soldiers become almost immune to violence and emotions. They are also hardened and less empathetic, as they need to adapt to the harsh ways of the battlefield to survive. This emotional transformation can lead them to hurt others, both during combat and in the way they interact with people after the war.

Before you choose to retaliate to someone making your life difficult, consider the hurt they could be going through below the surface.

 

PR All Quiet on the Western Front

All quiet on the western front was the most surprising pieces of war media that I have ever experienced. I’ve only ever read one other war book, but I have seen lots of movies and shows based in war and I could immediately tell how this book is a stark contrast to other pieces of war media in the genre. Many different aspects of the book that stuck out to me as unique, but I think the most striking part was the protagonist’s (Paul) tone throughout the book. In these other pieces of media that highlight war, the narrator will often romanticize or glamorize the war and talk very emotionally and at length about various different events that occur throughout. Erich Maria Remarque takes a different approach, writing Paul to have a very monotone voice throughout the book, providing a more grounded perspective on the war which is a breath of fresh air from other war books. The author writes in a way that I very much enjoy, he writes in such a minimal way with no flair that a lot of the surrounding carnage of the war can be left up to the imagination of the reader, giving it a more personal connection which I quite enjoyed while reading the book. One example of this I can think of is the multiple times in class when we spoke about the chapters and what we thought about them, there would always be discussions about different little ways we perceive the book, even with big plot points such as pauls death at the end we still took away different thoughts and disagreed, even though we were reading the same text. This applies to all books of course and is one of the reasons that books are so beloved, but I believe that All Quiet On The Western Front plays into this beautifully with the special way its written, and its monotone tone, which is unique especially for a war book from the 20th century.

PR #2 “All quiet on the western front”

“All Quiet on the Western Front” by Erich Maria Remarque is a book that left an impact on me. It’s a powerful exploration of the horrors of World War I, as seen through the eyes of a young German soldier, Paul Bäumer. It really moved me how this book portrays the horrors of war and everything that happened.
It shows how the friendships among soldiers is one of the few things that can keep them going in the face of overwhelming fear, suffering, and loss. It describes the mental and emotional toll that the constant exposure to death and violence takes on these young men.

Paul Bäumer’s journey from an eager, idealistic young man to a cold, disillusioned soldier is very sad. We witness his transformation as he comes face to face with war, the absurdity of authority figures, and the difference from a civilian world that cannot comprehend the horrors he has experienced.
“All Quiet on the Western Front” serves as a reminder of the impact of war on the lives of individuals and on society as a whole. It’s a testament to the people and the resilience of those who endure hardships. It also compels us to reflect on the consequences of our choices and the responsibility of nations to avoid war.

In summary, this book left me deeply moved. It is a haunting and timeless work that offers a window into the experiences of those who have lived through the horrors of war. “All Quiet on the Western Front” is a reminder of the human cost of conflict and a plea for peace and understanding in a world that continues to be controlled by war.

Personal Responses to All Quiet in the Western Front

My first impression to this book to be honest was not as bloody as film, but then when we went deeper we find more about the impact that the war made to these young soldiers. This book was not a book anymore but should been honored as a documentary that recorded what did the warfront look like.

My favorite character in this book was Kat because on the one hand, the experienced, cunning Kat demonstrates ways to make the most of life as a soldier, raising morale among the men and sharing tips and cook-bribing hacks that contrast with the meaningless lessons taught by the likes of Kantorek and Himmelstoss. Kat seeks ways to make war more tolerable, and to lessen the suffering of his comrades. The army, he argues, brings out the animalistic, reducing the veneer of civilization. At forty years old, Kat is older than Paul, and it’s unlikely the two would ever have met in peacetime. Kat’s life experience renders him reliable, a consummate survivor and a source of comfort to the men, and he becomes a father figure to Paul as well as his closest friend. But it’s this very experience that allows him to see modern warfare for what it is: their enemy. A cobbler by trade, Kat represents a preindustrial way of life, one which opposes the brutal hierarchies of the military.

Overall, the war was always cruel no matter the time, weapon or sizes, every soldiers and citizen of the country was innocent, the only sinners of the war is people who made decision to declare war and fire the bullets on these innocent. Such as what Kat think, the only meaning of the war in this boom was there there will be no elegant end for any of them—just more victims, unfairly slaughtered.

PR 2 # “All Quiet On The Western Front”

The novel opens as the narrator describes his current life on the front lines of World War I. They have eaten well for the first time in a long while and have also received a large amount of cigars and cigarettes. The narrator notes that this windfall of food to the fact that half of the men in his platoon were killed in combat the previous day, though they can still hear bombs from the front lines in the distance. The soldiers begin to lose track of days and weeks, counting time only by season and time spent at the front.

So for me, I do think that being in a war is dreadful because I might not get enough food or food that is delicious. And being in the horrible front line with all these barbed wire, gun fire, explosion the smell of dead and rotten bodies… oh I just don’t even want to think about it. It is just too horrible like a living hell…

I have never expected that in the last chapter everyone except Tjaden had died including our main character-Paul. I had never expected that this book was going to have a sad ending. As all of the books I have read before the main character had never died before so I was astonished by the ending of how almost everyone who was introduced and described had died. I was very depressed when I had finished the book.

After all I would recommend this book to others if they want to know the life of being in an army or people who would like to know more about World War one. But if you are the kind of person that would cry in a movie I definitely would not recommend this book.

PR “All Quiet on the Western Front”

All Quiet on the Western Front, by Erich Maria Remarque, is a novel that narrates the story of a WWI soldier named Paul Bäumer. One thing I find interesting about the author is that he was in combat during World War I himself. This could mean that the war novel he wrote was based on his experience and the things he lived on the front lines. Also, I consider that the author is a very skilled writer. He managed to describe everything in a way that the reader could feel part of the story and sense the emotions and tension of what was written.

Now, let’s talk about my thoughts on the book itself. I’m not a reader who usually reads history novels. The reason why I liked this one is because of how well-written it is. The history was narrated realistically. It described how the lifestyle of people was back in the times of WWI. It focuses on the people who were living on the front lines. The characters had interesting and relevant backgrounds for the story. This was useful to explain why the characters felt what they felt and did what they did. An example of a scene where we can appreciate the human behaviour of Paul is the one in which he kills an enemy soldier and realizes that he’s a human, a human just like him and his friends.

As soon as I finished reading the novel, I had the awful feeling of wanting a longer story. I enjoyed this book a lot. It made the study of WWI easier for me. As mentioned in the first paragraph, I’m not the kind of person who is interested in history. Somehow, this novel captured my undivided attention. I would recommend this book to my friends. It gives you an accurate idea of how terrible WWI was for everyone. WWI’s impact was so devastating that we can see it in some aspects of today’s society and lifestyle.

PR “All Quiet on the Western Front”

While I was reading “All Quiet on the Western Front” I had different emotions, and it was a different experience. this was an amazing book to read because it gives us an amazing perspective on the soldiers on World War I.

Paul, the main character, takes us on a trip that show us the awful realities of war and its significant psychological effects. The book was really difficult to read because of the representations of real horrors of war. I felt like if I was taken to the trenches because of the powerful and amazing description. The book also exposes the psychological and physical consequences that the war takes on soldiers, their loss, the insolence and the horrible impacts of combat.

Additionally, the book explores the idea solidarity and the relationships that soldiers developed the faced with suffering. Because of their common experiences, Pail ad his allies depend on one to another for supply. This showed us how how strong can friendships become in the chaos and sadness, this gives us a reminder and a lesson that the human on hard and difficult moments is super strong.

Another important thing that was on the book is the lasting effects that the survivors had, this were terrible effects shown in the book, for individuals and groups. Watching all the soldiers broken dreams was something super sad and it was an eye-opening symbol of the high human cost of war.

In conclusion, the book “All quiet on the Western Front” shows the horrific effects of war. It made me think a lotted made me see the perspective on the experiences of soldiers during World War I. This left an impact on me, forcing e to confront the realities if war and face the human spirit.

PR #2 ¨ALL QUIET AT THE WESTERN FRONT¨

All quiet on the western front by Erich Maria Remarque is a novel telling the story of a young soldier named Paul Bäumer who’s part of the Germany army. 

This book talks about the true about the war, how cruel It can be and how there are horrendous experiences that use as an audience wouldn’t never imagined it and will shock us. 

The daily life of a German soldier fighting on the French front, all the unimaginable experiences going for the simplest as flirting with a lady to the cruelest like the lost of a dear friend without filter, without sweetener for the audience, everything write it with the harsh true. 

This book really stuck to me, the way it was written, in old words I found it hard to understand, how the author really felt the sorrows of the wars and how he could portrayed it and use as an audience share the pain with him as we read the novel. 

Is a book I will definitely never forget, that will always help me remember myself the horrors of the war. 

PR: “All Quiet on the Western Front”

All Quiet on the Western Front, written by Erich Maria Remarque, it is a powerful pacifist novel. The book talks about a German group of soldiers: Paul, Tjaden, Kat, Müller, Detering and Kropp. Paul Baümer, the protagonist (the reason the book is called All Quiet on the Western Front), reveal us the truth about war. How they confront a harsh, cruel, and murderous life. The physical and emotional effect war have on the soldier’s lives. The novel points out in an obvious manner how they become dehumanized in such innumerable ways.

As a pacifist, I was shocked while reading the pages 205-206. So shocked I know the number of the pages by heart and needed to put down the book for a while. Tjaden ask “what exactly is the war for?” Kat  doubting responds that “there must be some people to whom the war is useful”. Tjaden grins and says he is not one of them and neither are the soldiers fighting the war. Tjaden insist by asking again, for who the war is useful?… it must not be for the Kaiser because he has everything he wants. Kat answer to the question by saying that every full  grown emperor requieres at least 1 war to become a well known emperor the children learn at the school.

This is true, most of the emperors and generals are generally known because all the territory and power they achieved. It is true, there are people to whom war is useful. But, it is also true all the losses and the dehumanization society experience, and this cannot be forgotten. The importance of learn history from a more realistic and human way (not just figures of casualties)  like this novel, it is so useful to avoid repeating the same mistakes all over again.

My Personal Response All quiet on The Western Front

All quiet on the Western Front is a very good and powerful novel that had a lot of impact on me. It’s an eternal classic story of the sadness that people lived in the war and the hardest emotions that they passed.

The story is narrated by Paul Baumer, a young German soldier who is sent to the front lines during World War I. In his own brutal and bad perspective. It’s incredible how he shows the reality that he passed, and in the time of the transmit of reality of the war when he shows. Unvarnished reality of the front lines from the constant fear and violence to the environment among soldiers.

One of the aspects of the story that shocked me the most is the way it explores the laws of innocence in the form of the younger generation who where trust into the horrors of war. Paul and his colleagues are just teenagers when they are send to fight, and they quickly loose the youthful idealism as they confront the brutal truths. The novel shows the profound emotional scars of those who survived.

The book also gets deep into the absurdity of war, showing the disconnect between soldiers and the front lines and also the leaders and politicians who made decisions of the safety of their officers. Its a reminder of the humane cause of the war.

“All Quiet on the Western Front” it’s a novel that makes you reflect and catch hard emotions about war and the sacrifices made by those who serve and the profound impact of violence in humans. Its a book that serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of peace and understanding in a world makedby conflict and fight.

Personal Response: “All Quiet on the Western Front”

“All Quiet on the Western Front” it’s a powerful book that explores the harsh realities of World War I and the physical and psychological impact on soldiers.

Regarding on the physical and psychological impact that it had on the soldiers one of the most affected ones is Paul, he has to go through different chapters during the time that he was on war and ended up as a broken individual. I enjoyed a lot the way in which the author expressed how the soldiers spent their time in the trenches, how could they die at any moment and the sacrifices they made, I found it eye opening and also very shocking.

What struck me most about this book is that it serves as a reminder for all humans of the cost that war involves, it is an anti-war message and that war can lead to a lot of unstoppable destruction, death and pain.

Reading this book made me think about the broader implications of war and how it shapes not only those who fight in it but also the generations that follow. It’s a timeless story that continues to resonate today, as conflicts and the toll of war persist in the world.

In conclusion, “All Quiet on the Western Front” left me deeply move and contemplative; it is a masterpiece of the English literature that in my case it left me with a sense of empathy for the soldiers who endure the horrors of war.

PR #2: All Quiet On The Western Front- Amelie

The book All Quiet on the Western front by Eric Maria Remarque is a book that will forever stick with me throughout my life. It was things like the context and the emotions of this book. It was things like the ironic sense of reality that soldiers can be boys and death can be normalized. Even the outlook on life, which was so blunt and simplistic, was almost animalistic. It is the things that most other books do not possess are what I remember from this book.  

Today’s novels that I have read have very different outlooks on wars and their soldiers. The soldiers at war are always strong, admirably brave, smart and willing do anything for their leaders. The leaders are always smart, kind and always do the best for their country. The enemies are always evil, cunning and evenly matched with the ‘good guys’. Granted it is natural for people to fantasize things, however it put things out of context. To read the nitty-gritty experience of war from the eyes of a soldier boy was flooring. To see the soldiers be ripped of their dignity on the trench lines like the young recruit from the German trench lines. An example being in chapter four when Paul, Albert and Katczinsky were placed in the front trenches and the bombing began. The story of military glory and bravery was ripped from my mind when the reality struck me. When the young recruit literally crapped his pants and cowered in fear from the bombing. Especially when even in the stillness of the night the mad sound of horses screaming in pain could be heard. The realization that soldiers were no more than boys who had lost their way was almost humbling.   

Living in the society I live in today and seeing the ways of life presented in All Quiet on the Western Front increased the impact. To see what Paul saw as normal or everyday was bizarre and almost scary for me. I feel almost childish thinking that I fear such trivial things. One thing that especially bothered me was when Paul came home on leave. In my mind I had built up this mentality that his friends and family would rejoice in Paul’s return. I had imagined that Paul would come and never want to leave. What I would not have expected was for him to become distant and vague with his friends and family. When his mother pleaded him to tell her if he was hurt from the war, he dismissed her and told her that he was fine. But what shocked me the most was how Paul felt as if he belonged nowhere in his home. He described hometown it as foreign and the people: unfamiliar. Even trivial things like the screaming of tramcars reminded him of the shrieks of shells from the frontlines. The people I thought would be open with Paul were telling him about war. No one ever listened except for his mother who he could not even bring himself to tell the truth. 

The perspective I have now on war has changed and warped over the span of reading this book. It showed me how different life can be. How simplistic and even terrifying it can be. Even as I end this personal response and move on with my life, this book has given me a tool. A tool to look at the past and the future with a new lens. 

PR#2 All Quiet On The Western Front

“All Quiet On The Western Front” is a book about World War I. The book perspective is from Paul Bäumer. This book is filled with mixed emotions from good to bad. If I were on the front line with the fearless soldier I wouldn’t be able to move from side to side hearing those sounds of guns and shell explosions. The pain in their eyes from our minds made us feel the same way. Their brotherhood and friendship bond were the most eye-catching. How strong their communication skills were. 

I still can’t believe that it took place in an actual World War and is based on a true story. How everyone’s life just disappeared in front of them. Everyone’s life just got taken away within seconds. How the book just straight up said that “Paul died”. I wish he didn’t. I feel so connected with them like they are one of me. Feel like they are my friends. 

“He fell in October 1918, on a day that was so quiet and still on the whole front, that the army report confined itself to the single sentence: All quiet on the Western Front…(p.269)”

This quote made my heart sink to the bottom of the earth. Everything stop. My eyes started to fill with tears. One by one slide down my cheeks. Overall this novel was the most I enjoy of all the books I’ve read.

Personal Response #2 All Quiet On The Western Front

“All Quiet on the Western Front” is a book about war, specifically World War I. It tells the story of Paul Bäumer, a young german soldier. What I liked most about this book is how it shows the harsh reality of war. It doesn’t hide the brutality of it all. The author describes the fear, suffering, and death that the soldiers experience. It also shows how the soldiers find comfort in their friendships. The book explains how war affects the mental health of young men, as they lose their innocence and realize that they are just being used in a war that doesn’t make sense.

The book’s portrayal of the dehumanizing effects of war is particularly poignant, as it shows how the young soldiers are stripped of their identities and become mere cogs in the war machine. What makes this novel so powerful is its ability to convey the human cost of war, not only in terms of the physical toll but also the emotional scars that last long after the war has ended.

This book has left a lasting impact on me. It has given me a glimpse into the lives of soldiers during World War I and made me realize the devastating effects of war on young minds. The book has made me reflect on the importance of peace and has left me with a deep appreciation for the sacrifices made by soldiers. It has shown me that war is not just about winning or losing, but about the human cost of conflict. Overall, “All Quiet on the Western Front” has left me with a sense of empathy and a desire to promote peace and understanding in the world.

This book makes you think and feel deeply. It reminds us of the terrible effects of war. It is essential for anyone who wants to understand how war affects people’s minds and why peace is important.

Personal writing 3

Random Wonder

In a world of pure chance and fun, We find things that make us all run. A rubber duck in a big blue sea, Or a buzzing bee, wild and free.

We love the strange, the goofy, the wild, In the chaos of life, like a happy child. A toast to the unexpected, it’s true, Randomness brings something new.

Let’s cheer for surprises, big and small, In life’s rollercoaster, we find it all. With each twist and turn, we see, That randomness is what makes life so free.

So, let’s enjoy the randomness, my dear, In this world where things may not be clear. In randomness, there’s joy and surprise, A quilt of moments that make us wise.

PR #2 – All Quiet on the Western Front – Kate Homer-Dixon

All Quiet on the Western Front (1929) was written by Erich Maria Remarque, a European writer. Remarque’s novel was a very intense experience for me. I was horrified by the protagonist’s, Paul Bäumer, vivid experiences while also being completely immersed in the story. Each experience felt honest and unfiltered, with every detail acknowledged regardless of whether it was good or bad. I think this is why reading how Paul slowly succumbed to the hopelessness during World War I was so upsetting. I wanted him to keep fighting even though continuing would hurt him more than giving up.

Hope is a constant theme throughout the story. It drives every character to survive, even though a lot of them do not know exactly what it is they are hoping for. Even when Paul gets these short moments of normality, it usually leaves him feeling even more unhappy. At one point, Paul is on leave and returns to his hometown in Germany where he feels deeply disconnected from his family and past life. He observes that:

“Out there I was indifferent and often hopeless –I will never be able to be so again. I was a soldier, and now I am nothing but an agony for myself, for my mother, and for everything that is so comfortless and without end. I ought never to have come on leave.”  (p. 185)

Relieving these feelings of discontent, disconnect, and emotional agony caused Paul more pain than if he had stayed on the front lines. He has no way to manage these feelings when he needs to focus on survival at the front, so he hides them and hopes for a future that will not force him to confront the trauma he has experienced. I will probably (hopefully) never be able to fully relate to his experiences, but it is devastating to know that millions of people had to endure these experiences in a senseless war.

The feelings Paul describes appear throughout the book but never lead to anything good. The reason is a simple one: empathy is not welcome in war. If Paul felt empathy for every enemy soldier he had killed, every soldier that he watched be shot, and every soldier who he saw slowly waste away surrounded by death and disease, he would not survive. Even when Paul had to tell the mother of his close friend, Kemmerich, that her son died, he cannot empathize with her. He explains that “When a man has seen so many dead he cannot understand any longer why there should be so much anguish over a single individual.” (p. 181). This explanation is even more devastating when he tries to comfort her by lying and saying that Kemmerich died an instant and painless death. Whenever I think of this scene I think of my mother, and what would happen if I were in this position. I cannot even begin to explain how awful it would be to die away from my family, unable to comfort them or say goodbye.

Erich Maria Remarque wrote these scenes to share what many soldiers experience fighting on every side of the war. The sheer brutality, destruction, damage, and pain conveyed in this book, combined with brief moments of happiness, is what makes Remarque’s words have such a direct message: the pain and horrors of war is shared on both sides of the conflict and outlasts everyone.

PR#2 – All Quiet on the Western Front

After reading All Quiet on the Western Font, I was struck by the incredible power of war and its devastating effects on the life of the soldiers. The vivid descriptions of the trenches and the horrors of war made me feel as if I was right there in the trenches with the soldiers. I was particularly moved by the way the characters expressed their fear, loneliness and despair. I was also touched by the strong bond of friendship that the soldiers had with each other.

The fact that this story is based on real life events made it even more powerful. The death of Kemmerich, in chapter 4 was particularly heartbreaking. His death serves as a reminder of the ultimate cost of war and how quickly ones life can be taken away.

The descriptions of the physical and psychological effects of war in chapters 7 and 11 were very moving. I was particularly struck by the way the soldiers had to cope with the constant fear and exhaustion of the battle. The scenes of the soldiers’ despair and hopelessness were also very powerful.

Overall, All Quiet on the Western Front was a passionate book. It reminded me of the importance of cherishing life and the need to work for peace.