Book 4 Reflection

Why the Villain in Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children is insignificant 

Upon reading this story I discovered how messy and confusing it is to the reader as to what is going on with the villain. I enjoyed the story but the villain lessened my feelings for the book.  

1. Who exactly is the villain 

Often times in a story we know who the villain is or can easily narrow it down between two people. It's often a frustrating experience when  a reader can't even tell if there is a villain behind the story. For example when Jacob first visits the loop and meets all the children, the reader more than likely thought that Miss Peregrine was supposed to pose as the villain. Emma says "I want to. I do. But it's a bad idea." (Riggs 199) Emma makes reference to wanting to leave but not being allowed to due to Miss Peregrine's strict rules. This leaves the reader to believe that Miss Peregrine is trying to keep the kids hostage. This is exactly the opposite of what the author wanted the reader to believe. 

2. Villain doesn't appear until the book is almost over

What is one of the most irritating factors of this book is that the author doesn't add the aspect of the villain in until the very end of the story. I personally enjoy reading the hero-villain story all throughout the story not just the end of the book. The villain is actually discovered on page 245/352. Emma says "He could see monsters." (Riggs 245) This is where the reader realizes that all of Jacob's curiosity about there being a monster comes true. It would make for a much better and more interesting story if the villain was more incorporated into the book. 

3. Villain has no motive 
It is very bland with the villain contains no background story. Imagine if the joker had no story behind his scars, then the villain would be pointless. This is exactly the idea behind the Hollows and Wights. They do everything in this story because they want to, not because they have a reason behind their actions. There are many examples of this like when Hollows eat peculiars just because they feel the need to eat them. There is no explanation in the story as to why they are eaten. It is also seen that there is no reason seen why the villains chase the peculiars. This just paints a bland story because you see no reason as to what the necessary means of the villains are. But there may be a small glimmer of hope that Hollow City highlights the reasons behind the Wights and the Hollows actions. 
4. Doesn't follow any archetype of villain 

Similar to the idea of how the villain has no motive it also has no archetype. But just because it doesn't follow the path of the literary villain archetype doesn't make this any better. He has no characteristics. This strongly bugs me because, he can't possibly be a villain if he doesn't have any literary characteristics. 5.Messy Villain
Overall there also isn't a clear cut villain in this story. There is not much of a moment where you fully understand what is happening. It might be possible this was the author literary choice but it makes for a messy story. Then once the main "villain" dies there's so much confusion as to what occurs after that. Like your not entirely sure if the children have more wights to fight or what is going on. 

Overall this a very messy book. The plot was clear but the whole villain-hero plot was very confusing. It would be like having a villain with no back story which makes for a very bland and uninteresting story. 

Reading Wishlist

Book 2 Trailer

Book Talk Presentation

Book 3 Listicle-5 Reasons Why Humor Works in The Help

When reading a serious topic is often hard to find the light in things. In The Help written by Kathryn Stockett she purposefully crafts a novel on a serious topic by adding humor where it is needed. While this book shows a serious matter it makes the reader provide a light chuckle every so often.

1. Provides comic relief to the story:
In the story it is clear that Minny is the comic relief character always providing funny lines to back up something that would otherwise not be funny. On page 192 Minny discusses about the lady she worked with that went on "vacation" and concludes with saying that she was fired but "Miss lazy fingers couldn't go a day without having a maid wait on her."

2. Poignant Moments made hilarious:
When you think of the help you think of moments like Minny's pie or Hilly Holbrooks Toilet yard. These moments were originally meant to show the sadness associated with civil rights because Minny would have to apologize to regain her job. And Skeeter felt the need to put toilets in Hilly's yard to show the unjustness of separate bathrooms. These moments originally had a sad appeal to them but the author added humor to shape a better story.

3.Humouros characters make for a more dynamic characters:
Minny is probably the character the makes one of the biggest leaps in the book she is often sarcastic and sassy seen with Celia, Hilly, Skeeter, Aibeleen and anyone she comes in contact with. Minny becomes a more powerful figure for herself when she realizes that being sassy doesn't always work out. This is seen with Celia in chapters 17 and 18.

4.Humor adds understanding:
Often in the book Stockett provides humor that helps the reader feel more sensitive and  conscious of a character's feelings. With Celia the author provides deep description of how she doesn't fit in and often pokes fun at who she is and what she looks like. But with this element you can see how she clearly feels outcast and you get a better feel of who she is. This is seen through Minny's perspective and descriptions of her as well as at the banquet and how she just doesn't understand Jackson lifestyle.




5.Humor adds more stability to a story:
If an author is able to add humor elements to a story it's shows the ability to make a stable story without the element of humor the story wouldn't be the same you wouldn't be able to laugh and feel sorrowful at the same time through the characters of Minny and Skeeter. It also wouldn't have notable scenes like the pie or the toilets. It creates a comfortable atmosphere for an often uncomfortable topic.

Conclusion: 
This is important to the story of The Help because it provides the necessary means to provide a successful story to the audience. Using humor creates a new element to the serious genre of historical fiction which ultimately improved the story.

Truth in Memoir

I think a non-fiction book must be the only genre that stays true to all the facts if its meant to teach. . It is defintely inmoral to lie about infomation written because there is a difference between fact and fiction. When a non-fiction book is written it is intended for people to learn something from it and when we start blurring the lines between the two it becomes the area where people often stop understanding what is true and what isn't. If the intention of the story is to teach then it must be completely factual. I like how Aimee Bender mentioned creative nonfiction, which is based on truth but adding the dramtic elements that many people enjoy. Much like the story written by Truman Capote In Cold Blood. This story worked wonderfully and many other stories could work when written this way as long as the reader knows that not everything written.

Half-truths I believe can only be allowed if the authors purposefully crafts it this way and the reader knows the book to be half truth which is similar to the idea of creative nonfiction. This way a reader cannot rely on this book completely for facts. I often enjoy the genre of creative nonfiction because it makes for interesting take on real story. It does matter if memoirists bend their stories without the knowledge of their publishers and audience. If this is done then it is just a pure lie.

David Shields is right in a way because it is important to have basic linings but it doesn’t have to be the exact formation for genres. It is important for authors to venture outside the lines of a form genre.

Adapting Book 2

1. Some challenges that the author would face would be to portray the movie from the perspective of death. The movie would have to have a narrator or some kind way to show the perspective of death.

Three scenes that need to be added from what I have read so far

• The scene where Lisel meet Rudy and when they have a race and where there friendship grows.
• The late night lessons with Hubermann to show the love that grows between a daughter and father
• The fight where Ludwig and Lisel get into a fight.

2. Things that need to cut from the movie

• Make Rosa seem less important because of all the issues that arise from this.
• Hans and his son fight because you already know he doesn't want any part of the party.