So.....this is awkward

Bloggers, readers, and other freshman forced to update these blogs every week,

I am not very good at sticking to a schedule. You see, back when I had English class every day for the first two trimesters, it was fairly easy to remember to blog and put effort into understanding and analyzing, and in turn presenting the information that came to me through the well thought out scribbles of the English language bound within the pages of a book....

Ah, who am I kidding? Am I right?

Well I would like to say that I am one of those overachieving freshmen who decided to put all of their free time into this blog (even after English was over...). Okay that came out wrong. And it didn't sound very good either....

RESTART:

Alright, fellow students, my time in freshman English is over and I have to admit I do miss it a lot. So, on behalf of my amazing English teachers, I would like to continue blogging. Even though nobody will be grading it (or reading it?).

But why?

Well....I hadn't thought that through completely. After all, it HAS been 5 weeks without a blog, but I think blogging will help me to get back into my reading. 'Cause let's be honest here, who reads in their free time anyways? Ha. It's another lame joke about teenagers and their life consumed by video games and texting and shopping and really good snack foods and hanging out with friends and listening to music and failing to cram information into our heads before a really big test and the snack food.... Did I mention texting....?

Okay, humor isn't always a strength for me.

To conclude this post I would actually like to say something about reading: I am going to start reading Matched. Hopefully it's as good as everybody says it is.

Until we meet again,

Georgia

Blog Reflection

WARNING: The Post Below Is Not Exceptionally Amazing, But Rather An Extraordinarily Normal High School Reflection (I think...)

If you wish for any of this to make sense, scroll down a little and read the short little post called "And Everybody Knows" and this may still not make sense, but at least you did some reading and got some background information.

Proceed With Caution

Note: The font is wacky and messed up, but it's ok.

In the above post, I incorporated a distinct writing voice unique to my personality. Specific words and phrases that I use throughout the blog include, “So, readers, keep reading! I’ll see you a few pages later,” and “You know, the kind of day where something keeps coming up in your mind and you feel so embarrassed about it?” These showcase my voice because I speak directly to the reader and involve them by directly stating or asking something. Another way that I use my writer’s voice is when I say, “And you think everybody knows. Oh, sorry, scratch that. You just KNOW that EVERYBODY knows.” I think this phrase really shows my sarcastic side and demonstrates the understanding of the ability to relate to the reader. I mean, after all, who hasn’t felt like something was written on their forehead? Overall, I feel like my voice has developed a lot throughout the trimester and I think I have done a good job of showcasing in the above post.

In terms of diction and syntax, I can’t say that I used a bunch of amazing advanced variations of the two in the post that I decided to use because that wasn’t the intention of the post. I wanted any reader to be able to relate, and I wanted it to flow like a conversation (No, these techniques weren’t absent, they just weren’t as intense). However, I can say that my post was filled with informal diction. I have found, over the years, that I am more likely to read (and enjoy) something conversational rather than professional. The use of large words makes me feel small, so I used some smaller words to describe some bigger concepts, in the hopes of engaging and entertaining the reader. Specifically I do this when I ask, “Have you ever had one of those days? You know, the kind of where something keeps coming up into your mind and you feel so embarrassed about it?  And you think everybody knows. Oh, sorry, scratch that. You just KNOW that EVERYBODY knows.” This is informal diction because I correct myself through the words of the post, allowing the reader to relate, and ask questions in a conversational manner.

As far as syntax goes, I think I did a good job of using a variety of sentence lengths and punctuation. I asked questions, made statements, and exclaimed information. An example of the statement includes, “Craig feels like that. The idea of him being locked inside a place that didn't even seem like real life is finally sinking in. And the fact that everybody knows he has an ‘issue,’”. This statement is simple, but allows the reader to grasp the concept that I am trying to explain. I also use an exclamation when I say, “So, readers, keep reading! I'll see you a few pages later!” This shows the reader my excitement and enthusiasm. Lastly, I use varied sentence lengths in the piece. Specifically, it says, “Poor Craig. That's has to be really difficult. It amazes me to think that the author who wrote this book went through exactly what Craig is going through. It just makes me wonder how much strength a person has to have to get through it.” The short sentences prevent boredom in the reader and the longer sentences go on to explain some of the ideas presented within the short sentences.

"And Everybody Knows"

And  everybody knows.

And everybody knows.

AND EVERYBODY KNOWS.

Have you ever had one of those days? You know, the kind of where something keeps coming up into your mind and you feel so embarrassed about it? And you think everybody knows. Oh, sorry, scratch that. You just KNOW that EVERYBODY knows.

Craig feels like that. The idea of him being locked inside a place that didn't even seem like real life is finally sinking. And the fact that everybody knows he has an "issue." Poor Craig. That's has to be really difficult. It amazes me to think that the author who wrote this book went through exactly what Craig is going through. It just makes me wonder how much strength a person has to have to get through it.

I think the author did an amazing job using diction and syntax to create the feelings Craig was experiencing inside the reader. In the text it says, "I've sunk to the lowest place I can be...And everybody knows. I'm in a place where people have no teeth and eat liquid food. And everybody knows. I'm in a place where the guy I eat with lives in his car. And everybody knows." (Vizzini 258). The repeated phrase allows the reader to get inside the head of Craig and feel the feelings that he is experiencing.

So, readers, keep reading! I'll see you a few pages later!

Unwritten Etiquette

Craig Gilner. The boy who was brave and sensible enough to check himself into a mental hospital...which kind of contradicts itself, doesn't it? While Craig is inside the hospital called Six North, he decides a few things about the hospital. One,that he was locked up with a bunch of "crazies", two, that the hospital staff is insane for not having a bible in each hospital room, and three, that there are unspoken rules about being in a mental hospital.

Craig believes, like any other person, that there is etiquette that must be followed while residing in the hospital. The only major rule though, is not asking why they were there. What their story was. How they let themselves come to the breaking point. How they ruined their lives. Who claimed they were insane and put them in this prison? Craig explores this when he thinks, "I get the feeling-I don't know how I know the rules of metal-ward etiquette; maybe I was born with them; maybe I knew I'd end up here-but I get the feeling that one big no-no in this place is asking people how they got here," (Vizzini 198). I think I agree with Craig, I mean, would you want somebody asking you about every single detail of your life story?

But what if you are trying to help somebody? What if you think they need help, even if they don't quite know it yet?

Come to think of it, maybe there is an "invisible" line that you dare not cross in order to be considered NOT rude, or NOT mean, or NOT intruding in everyday life. So, readers, I encourage you to post your answers below about what the limit is in social conduct. Where do you draw the line?

The Code Language of Craig Gilner

On occasion, everybody has used some sort of code language in their life. For my sister and I, code was impliented at a young age to avoid eating vegetables and get them safely into the dog's awaiting mouth every night. Unfortunately, code lasted about 2 weeks, because, aparently, the words green and puppy came up at dinner a little too much and therefore would not remain secret (even though they were horribly easy to decode anyways). 

For Craig Gilner, code words are a little more serious than just avoiding eating his greens at dinner. No, for Craig, code words are essential for depicting his life to the multiple doctors, therapists, and psychologists he sees. You see, Craig suffers from depression which causes him to sleep all the time, not want to eat, and have negative, suicidal thoughts float through all of his tangled thoughts.

Note: When I read this book, seeing as though the author, Ned Vizzini, suffered from depression, it makes it all seem scary real. Yes, teenagers do go through this a lot, and by no means should anybody judge them. I could never even imagine myself going through this type of illness and Craig and the thousands of others should never have to go through it either. From the book, it is described as a constant struggle that takes all energy and more to fight back with.

Here are a list of the words that Craig uses to desribe his depression:

1) Tentacles- a term used to describe the difficulties in his life. The author writes, "Tentacles is my term-the Tentacles are the evil tasks that invade my life. Like, for example, my American History class last week..." (Vizzini, 14). Tentacles are not neccesarily the cause of Craig's depression, but the things in life that make it difficult for him.

2) Anchors- though Craig is going through a lot of negativity, there are good points in his life, which he cherishes and hopes for everyday. Craig describes them as, "The opposite of Tentacles are the Anchors. The Anchors are things that occupy my mind and make me feel good temporarly. Riding my bike is an Anchor. Doing flash cards is an Anchor. Watching people play video games is an Anchor. The answers are simplw and sequential. There aren't any decisions. There aren't any Tentacles" (Vizzini, 15). It seems as though Criag is dealing with depression because he doesn't like making decisions, which probably stress him out. However, Anchors don't solve his depression, they only distract him from it.

3) The Shift- the moment when Craig will be released from his depression and can go about his life as if it never happened. Basically, it is the moment where his depression will melt away, and the doctors will proclaim that he has been cured. Vizzini writes, "I'm waiting for her to say 'Craig, what you need to do is X' and for the Shift to occur. I want there to be a Shift so bad. I want to feel my brain slide backk into the slot it was meant to be in, rest there the way it did before the fallof last year, back when I was younf, and witty, and my teachers said I had incredible promis, and I spoke up in class..." (Vizzini, 17). Anybody who is depressed doesn't want to be that way, but it is difficult for them to get out of it.

Though not everybody uses code for the same reasons, it does play a large role in Craig's life. No, it may not be something you take seriously, but I assure you that for Craig, and probably lots of others, it is extremely important. So readers, what do you think about this post? It is kind of broken up and choppy, but I am sure that it all relates in some way.

Thanks for reading!

High Expectations

Being that I am the kind of person who will spend at least an hour preparing for a quiz, I can relate with a new character named Craig.

Oh, before I forget, I have a new book that I am reading and it is called, It's Kind Of A Funny Story. The book takes place in New York, where Craig lives.

Now sit back, relax, and enjoy the little summary I am going to give you:

Craig Gilner is the main character of my book, and at the end of eighth grade, he spent at least 22 hours preparing to get into one of the prestigious high schools in New York. This high school required that you take a test in order to see if you have the ability to keep up with the academic work and study.  Craig explains to the reader, "So this test-they named it the Bernard Lutz Philanthropic Exam, in honor of his philanthropicness-became fairly important in my life," (Vizzini, 50). He soon becomes so obbsessed with this test that he begins to neglect his friends, family, and even food, "It became more important than, uh, food, for instance," (Vizzini, 50). He wanted so badly to ace this test that he filled all of his free time with test prep and practice.

He had a strict routine that he always followed, "I'd come home with my heavy backpack and toss it on the bed and watch it bounce towards the pillows as I sat down in my chair and pulled out test-prep book," (Vizzini, 50). He would go on to finish all of his practice exams in the book, which took about 2 hours each. Then he went on a quest to find more test-prep books, "...after I did them all, I was thrilled to discover an ad at the back for twelve more Bernard Lutz test-prep books. I went to Barnes & Noble; they didn't have all of them in stock-they'd never had anyone ask for all of them-so they had to put in an order for me," (Vizzini, 50).

Now I know I am crazy when it comes to studying, but I think Craig is on the verge of what I call INSANE. But I have to hand it to him, that's real dedication. You can tell that Craig is really passionate about school work and would do anything to get into this school. I think it would be amazing if I studied like that....but I think I am okay where I'm at.

Thanks for reading!

An Unexpected Ending to a Satisfying Book

No. I did not see that coming.

That did not just happen.

*Dramatic sigh*

It's too much, the ending is too much.

I can't read on!!

And everybody keeps on reading. You would think by the way we talk about not wanting a book to end, nobody would ever finish a book. Everybody says they can't stand ending a book, they just can't do it. I am one of those readers. And then you have readers on the opposite side of the spectrum who jut want to figure out what REALLY happens instead of playing through multiple scenes in their head trying to find the perfect ending and not wanting the author to "mess it up". Hello, people! The author wrote the book, they kind of get a say in how it ends. Haha, I guess I am kind of talking to myself now, and giving myself advice....

But seriously, I would recommend this book to anybody (okay, just girls) because the main character is really relatable. This book is well-written and believable. I want to read it again (and I don't usually say that about books). It is funny, cute, witty, and inspiring. And though the ending was unexpected, I am glad that it was.

Anyways, I just thought I would update you and tell you that I have finished another book and can now happily add it to the growing list of books I have read.

Which reminds me, I have not been on Goodreads in a while...

Ahead of the Game

If you read my blogs regularly, you should remember way back to a time where the trimester was just beginning, when I posted a blog about author's voice. Been there, done that! Please don't be offended (I promise I'm not that mean), I'm just excited that I am ahead of the game for once in my life. I think I really did a nice job on it too, so i encourage you to check it out here.

Now, I'm going to be honest with you (I am brutally honest in case you didn't know), just like I always am (or at least try to be). I don't think I am the best writer in the world. I don't even consider myself good or average. But, when I get to blog and share my opinions how I want to, it helps me to make my writing sound better. Plus, I like blogging. Maybe one day, when we all forget about what it is like to be in high school, you may stumble upon a blog that is written by a name you vaguely remember. Upon seeing this said blog, you may remember high school and sitting in the Z2 computer lab, tapping at the keys, and creating a blog about voice.

That was a pitiful example, but maybe it will happen. Anyways, besides my creative roadblock this morning, I have one point I really want to make. I will always remember writing the countless essays and paragraphs, and the endless TIQAs and stories. But above that, I will know that author's voice was something I used to make it easier and make people remember my writing.

But you may be asking, Georgia, since when did you get so obbsessed about this topic? ANSWER: I didn't. Its just something I enjoy and incorporate into the many different types of writing. We see author's voice everywhere and it's something that you should try too.

And how do authors use voice in books that we get from the library, the digital library, or a book store? Simple, just like this, "I don't remember having feelings one way or another about my father's directive that I-who had to leave for school in a few minutes-vacate the kitchen space untile he-who had nowhere to be at any particular time-finished making his tea, as I was 'in his way.'" (Buzo, 179). This is a quote from the book, Love and Other Perishable Items, written by an Austrailian author, Laura Buzo. Buzo incorporates her voice into everything-when Amelia talks, how she interacts, and her tone-which as you can see, really enhances the story.

In the quote, the author is snarky and slightly accusing, you know she sounds like a teenager,(not to offend the fellow classmates or students)  which is good since Amelia is a teenager. She also uses the dashes and sentence breaks to create the style and the way that we, as teenagers, talk. Her voice is clear and I personally like it a lot.

So readers, and young authors, I encurage you to comment about your voice as an author. Are you humorous or accusing? Perhaps serious or maybe witty? I want to hear (or i guess read...you know since it will be in the form of a comment) all about it!

"What, about myself, or the world in general?"

"'So, Amelia, what do you hate?' he says, leaning back in his side of the booth."

If somebody asked you the question of what you hated, what would you say? Would you lie and replace your small self-loathing hate with a much bolder and charitable hate. For example, switch "I hate the way I look," with "I hate poverty, world hunger, and war. As well as people who abuse their children, friends, spouses, or animals. And we can't forget about the children who can't read or write because they can't go to school, I just HATE that they are less fortunate than I, considering I LOVE going to school and want them to have the same experience!"

Nope. Stop lying to yourself. Nobody loves school. Haha. Calm down, to the school-lovers out there, it's ok. I like school to. I'm just saying that most people I know would rather be sleeping. But think about it, do you really genuinely hate poverty, world hunger, and war? Or are you too preoccupied worrying about your hair, clothes, and the people you hang out with? I don't think anybody can say immediately that they hate poverty or something like this unless they are in the situation themselves or know somebody in this situation. Most people hate directly what they have to deal with.

Which is totally okay because not all of us think we have time to put on an imaginary cape and save the world or be a selfless person as an example to the public. No, the lifestyles that some of us live in put up blinders and have us focus only on what we want and what comes first for us, which makes us oblivious to any other problems in the world. I just wish there was a nicer way to say that, because now I am convinced a few of you will HATE me or stop reading my blogs. But in reality, I am criticizing myself too. Sure, I have been to Guatemala on a mission trip and seen poverty, and now I donate to them as much as I can, but my lifestyle gets in the way. There is no way for me to be totally devoted to hating poverty, no matter how much I dislike it. That's not to say that you can't hate it, but I'm pretty sure there would be something that comes before that on the list of things you hate.

What I think is great is that Amelia answers back like this, "What, about myself, or the world in general?"

"...'Let's start with you, then move on to the world in general.'"

"'I hate that I am fat and ugly and stupid.'"

"...You are none of those things," (Buzo, 79).

I guess what Laura Buzo is trying to say is that we hate things that really are not even there. We have to step back and think through what we like and don't like and what is real or an illusion. But then she adds in, "I know I should say that I hate wars and starvation and inequity. And I do. But on a day-to-day basis, what I hate most is that both my parents smoke." (Buzo, 79).

This shows us that even though words like war, starvation, poverty, disabilities, and more are in the back of our heads we don't think about it day-to-day and it's not what we deem to be important on a regular basis. We tend to worry about homework, stress about social situations, or exams. We focus on the way people treat us or the situations we see and not think about how we treat others.

So, readers, I challenge you to take a selfless approach to the new week and new year. Maybe even think about some of these issues with society a little more. Remember, I'm not trying to call you selfish or offend you in any way. I'm just stating how I feel about society, myself and the book.

Amelia The Youngster

In the book, Love and Other Perishable Items, there are two main characters. The first character is Amelia. Amelia is 15 years old and just got a job working at a grocery store called Cole's. She works because money is tight for her family and she would rather be away from her house anyways. She is very relatable because she is awkward (like me!) and struggles in math. She also experiences problems with love and growing up. She spends her time day dreaming about the flirty boy, Chris. The only problem is that Chris is 21 years old. That's a 6 year age gap, unless I did the math wrong...

Anyways, I find Amelia to be very relatable to teenage girls in today's society. I mean, there are a lot of girls that I know who will scream just at the mention of One Direction (cue the screaming girls). They just get so infatuated with one person that they can't stop thinking about them. So in a way, Amelia is an Extreme Directioner.

Moving on to another reason why Amelia is relatable (at least to me): she can not watch any horror movies, read creepy/scary books, or have the guts to go through a haunted house. A quote from the text to support this is," 'I don't watch horror movies.' I mean it. Not ever. They make me scared. Scared of being alone in the house. Scared being alone upstairs at night. Scared of walking home from work in the dark. Penny can watch scary movies and be completely unaffected. She can watch The Silence of the Lambs and then fall swiftly asleep. I didn't sleep for a week after we watched it last year. Never again." (Buzo, 11).This characteristic of Amelia especially relates to me because the whole reason I started reading this book was to escape the creepiness of another book I am reading (though I haven't been brave enough to try to read it again).

Lastly, Amelia is called by a bunch of different names by Chris. Here are a few examples of the names Amelia is called:

1. " 'I,' he said, 'am Chris, your friendly staff trainer.You'll be with me for three four-hour shifts. I will call you Grasshopper and you will call me Sensei, and will share with you what I know. Right?'" (Buzo, 7).

2. "'Oh, you should join the union, Youngster.'" (Buzo, 10).

3. "He has never, ever called me by my actual name," (Buzo, 65).

4. "You are in disgrace, Youngster. Do you hear me? Disgrace." (Buzo, 70).

He refers to her as Youngster, a lot. I mean, he only has used her real name twice. The first time was when he first met her, but then immediately changed her name to Grasshopper. The second time was when he was so angry that everything in his way would be yelled at, shoved, or injured.

Having a relatable character with imperfections is the only way to have a "perfect" character. The reader has to be able to walk in their shoes in order to really understand and believe the story. Otherwise, reading the book would be annoying and not fun. Besides, imperfections are perfect anyways.

Goodnight Readers and Bloggers!

P.S. Amelia also has this adorable little sister who says important things such as, "Amelia...My hands don't come off. They're attached to my body." (Buzo, 10). I agree with Amelia's response, which simply is "So true."

Another Book...(Just so You Know)

Alright everybody, I am warning you in advance. It is extremely confusing because I am now in the process of reading 3 different books. Please bare with me as I try to explain in the least painful way as possible. Okay, so I was reading Incarceron,but then it returned itself to the library (its an ebook), and I, sadly could not finish it right when we reached the epic climax. So then I started reading this book called Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, since I thought it would be a nice change in the material that I was reading. But then I realized it can be creepy at some points...and the only time I have to read is usually before bed.

NO I CAN'T JUST READ IT AND THEN SLEEP. Call me crazy, but it just freaks me out. I am not one of those people that can just read anything, then put down the book and not have a second thought about it. Oh no! That's not how it works for me. Even the smallest ideas or concepts stay in my head for weeks (or months even!). So the only way to stop thinking about that book is to read a new one. Thus, book #3 comes into the story. This third book, sneaking its way into my hand following the lead of the others, is called Love and Other Perishable Things, and it is light hearted and carefree and gets rid of all the creepy before I have to go to sleep. It does a fairly nice job.

Yes, I am crazy, but I am organized. And right now, I promise that I will do my best to not confuse you even if I have no idea what is going on myself.

That's all for this post. I have realized that a lot of my posts are long and rambling...

So this time the post is short.

Your welcome :)