The windows to My Soul

      Shalom (peace) My fellow bloggers and blog readers. I'm almost half way done with my second AP book The kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini and I love it! I've been able to keep my reading goals consistent most of the time mainly because I can't put this book down. It's taking quite a while for the reason of studying for finals and because it's about 400 pages long.
     There was this one quote that stood out to me so much because I was able to make a strong connection with it. In the beginning of the story when the main character's father had told him that "people say that eyes are windows to the soul"(Hosseini, 6), I'm pretty sure that was a warning because of all things he would bare witness to and the person he grew up to be. I believe that personality is a part of our soul and that whatever we see that has a great impact on us either adds or takes away from our personality. I used to be greedy and stubborn while growing up as a young child. I always wanted more or wanted less and wasted quite a lot of food. I was never thankful for what I had. Then it all changed one summer when my family and I went to India for a visit. I saw so many poor people living in slums with so little to eat, children walking barefoot on city ground, stray dogs and cats that were slim to the bone or sometimes dead because they were run over by arrogant drivers. There were a multitude of homeless people walking around bus stations, churches, and temples begging for money or at least for some food so that they wouldn't starve to death. I witnessed this without knowing what to really expect because I was young, selfish and naive. That trip was a life changing experience that motivated me to deny myself and not be so self-centered or conceded anymore, and I know that this exposure to reality was for the better of my soul and my life. The person that I am today is definitely not the person who I was before.
     I hope I can finish this book before the semester ends because there are 9 more days of school left (not including the weekend). The next book that I plan to read over the summer will be non-fiction, but I haven't specifically decided yet. Anyways, I hope y'all enjoyed this post. Until then, I will be reading. Bye!
   
   

As A Christian

     Hello Everyone! I finished my first AP book Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck in 1 week. WARNING: There a few spoilers in this post. It may seem like a long time for you guys since it's a really thin novel, but with all the homework I've had that week I wasn't able read 30 minutes everyday outside of class, but I think I read it in a pretty decent amount of time. This is the first book that made me cry because it was really sad and the story was very well written. I was able to fully absorb the content which is why I loved it so much.
     There was just one sentence form the book that really spoke to me while reading this novel because I could connect with it. "'Well, I never seen one guy take so much trouble for another guy'"(12).  In the story George and Lennie always traveled together because George took care of Lennie ever since he just a baby after his Aunt Clara died. George just couldn't left go of Lennie because he was so innocent and fragile. I connected with this quote because as a christian I believe Christ went through so much trouble for me and because of me. In a way, I'm like Lennie because I'm a really naive and weak person. So I know that there is always someone who I can look up to whenever I'm in distress and need someone to hold my hand while facing life's trials.
     I have started on my 2nd AP book which is The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini. I've only read the first few Pages so far, and it's pretty interesting. I don't the story plot but I from other friends that it was really intense. Hopefully I will be able to finish it by the end of this semester. Until next time! By! 

Wish Me Luck!

     Hey guys! I'm back! And I have finally finished Lord of The Flies by William Golding. I would definately have to say that it was a difficult read because I'm not accustomed to reading british literature and there were too many vocabulary words which I didn't know. Just reading the first page foreshadowed how I was going to feel when I got to the last page. I would give this novel 3 stars.
     The next book that I plan on reading is The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini or Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck. It depends which one I get my hands on first. Both of these novels are on the AP list and I plan on reading them before this semester ends. I hope I'm emotionally prepared for these books because I've heard that Of Mice and Men is really sad and that The Kite Runner makes people cringe and become angry because the protagonist constantly undergoes many shortcomings in his life. I plan on reading 15 minutes almost everyday in class and 30 minutes per day outside of class. Wish me luck!

I'm Suffocating in Gossip

     Hey everyone! I'm still on my third book, Lord of The Flies by William Golding, but I'm progressing. Although I havn't been reading everyday like I'm supposed to, I've already read about half of the book and still have about one week before the deadline to finish it. For these past few weeks I've only been reading 15 minutes per week...Hopefully I will be able to make time to read and push through it by the end of this week. Also, I'm still looking for a good book off the AP list to read after I complete reading this one. It will probably won't be as difficult as Lord of The Flies is.
    While I was reading last week, there was this one quote that really stood out to me. Ralf was venturing out in the jungle when he realized that "he was surrounded on all sides by chasms of empty air"(150). He was frightened and wanted to hide. So basically, he was encircled by openings and fissures in the ground while exploring the jungle and having a feeling that something was watching him. I can totally relate to this in a figurative manner because when I was in sixth grade I hung out with some friends who were actually two-faced to me. They were my only "friends" that I had during that time. I felt devastated because no matter what I would do or where I would go, these "friends" would always be gossiping about me and leaving me out on purpose. In a way it seemed like I was always surrounded them and it was difficult to get through to the other side. They were the chasms blocking me from my freedom. Their gossip and attitude toward me was like the empty air  that I was suffocating in.
     I feel like the author used this quote mainly for imagery because of the situation Ralf was in. The syntax and diction in this quote made it more interesting because it was full of fear. I wonder if Golding knew that this specific text had two meanings because unfortunately, there are many people in this world who are victims of bullying that need to be able to breathe peace.
   

I Get Lost in All the Details

     Hey y'all! I'm on my third book lord of the Flies by William Golding. In my opinion, it's a difficult read because I get lost in all the details about everything. I havn't been motivated at all to read it outside of class because I don't understand what's going on half the time. Reading 15 minutes and 14 pages per day is what I have accomplished theses few weeks. So I've already read about 1/3 of this book. From what I read and understood, the story is very adventurous and at the same time full of fear of what's going to happen next. This is my least favorite book that I've read so far, but I will take it as a challenge to strenghthen and excell in my weaknesses. I havn't decided the next book that I'm going read, but I know that it will be off the AP list.
     The one quote that stood out to me most was " The thing is - fear can't hurt you anymore than a dream" because it's so true and is appliable to our own lives. The only way to protect yourself from being injured from fear is to face it courageously, otherwise it hurt you if you let it grow. This quote was placed in a critical moment in the book when fear was in every character's mind. I was reminded of this one movie that I watched where a man had been stranded on a island as well. The fear he had of not surviving almost destroyed him, but towards the end of the movie he let the fear fall to ground to be trampled on and he kept on moving forward until he got rescued. If I were at least one of the characters in Lord of the Flies, I would of gone crazy because I would of let the fear of not surviving the beast eat me psychologically without knowing it. I would only be able to face my fears if I actually had courage. I'm not sure if all of the characters in William Golding's novel will be haunted by the fear of being killed by the beast or if they will actually will be killed by the beast. Hopefully all goes well.
   
   

Don't Forget The First Day of The Rest of Your Life

          Greetings my fello bloggers and blog readers! I have just recently finished reading The Lost Boy by Dave Pelzer which is the sequal to A Child Called It. This book wasn't as horrifying as the first one was but it was just as good. During the past 2 weeks I was able to read 30 minutes per day outside of class. I hope to keep it up when I continue reading more books this 9 weeks. My next book that I plan to read is Lord of The Flies, and I'm totally hyped for another adventure!
         At the end of the 3rd chapter, Dave's life hits a turning point which displays a hint of hope for the readers. He had just won a court case in order for his mother to not have custody over him and was going to live with foster parents in a new home. What makes his climax in his life even more significant is when he says himself "I just don't to forget this first day of the rest of my life"(49)!This quote means so much more than it seems. The tone in the sentence alone can convey that he was so motivated to live life to the fullest because he knew that he wasn't an "It" anymore but was a real person with dignity who could make a difference in the world. I'm pretty sure Dave was being dead serious when he said this because EVERYTHING in his life was really going to change. I have a few cousins who have been adopted at an early age, but it just makes me feel really sad to know that most of my adopted cousins were held up for adoption because their parents didn't want them. Who knows what their parents could of done to them! This series has opened my eyes to the real world and has helped me understand the hard truth.

About Me and My Goal

    Hello my name is Pamela and I enjoy reading alot. I LOVE singing, painting, drawing, and dancing around the house. Reading never really used to be a part of my life when I was young, mainly because I thought it was boring, but over the years my perspective has drastically changed.
I take delight in reading teen fiction novels, fantasy novels and have recently been interested in non fiction autobiographies.
    My goal is to read at least 5 books this semester for at least 30 minutes per day outside of class. I have recently finished reading A Child Called It by Dave Pelzer which is on the AP reading list and plan to read another book on the list along with Lord of The Flies by William Golding. The rest of the  books that I will be reading is still undecided....for now.