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.

Book 1 Project




Hannibal, Missouri- The location of
some of the Scavenger Hunt

Since this book is so popular and the movie is coming out in a few short weeks it would be a good idea to release an interactive website or app that could show the meaning of Nick and Amy’s story in Gone Girl. It would be like Amy's scavenger hunt but the reader would be able to complete it in Nick's place. It would be an interactive app that readers would allow readers to expand their knowledge and understanding of the story Gone Girl. You could buy it on your phone or tablet and maybe even it could be an extra feature to an e-book. This an ideal way to advertise this book because many people love to have a feature where they can show their love for their book. With this, they can extend their knowledge of the story and enjoy doing it.



Amy's Diary would be one of

the things the user would discover on

 the app

In the book Amy is one of the most romantic woman there is. She always creates scavenger hunts to prove to Nick how much she "loves" him. It is clear that she put in enough time to make Nick go on a scavenger hunt to plan out his finish. “Amy was using the treasure hunt to steer us back to each other. And it was too late.” (Flynn 110).This gives the reader the feelings Nick felt about Amy, allowing the reader to act as if he were Nick. The scavenger hunt would be similar to the book and would have to make the reader utilize the book to figure it out. It would give the reader a better understanding of Amy and her manipulative ways. You would feel like Nick because it would show the confusion he feels of not knowing or understanding his wife. “These treasure hunts had always amounted to a single question: Who is Amy? (What is my wife thinking? What was important to her this past year? What moments made her happiest? Amy, Amy, let’s think about Amy.” (Flynn 73) This app would stick to the descriptions the author uses in the text to keep it to the same premises as the book. The treasure hunt that Amy designed was intended to send Nick on a downward spiral to frame himself. The reader would feel more involved in the story, since using technology to provide the app would create a larger audience as well. When using technology you can give a better view to a wider audience. The reader can understand how Nick feels being “pulled” back to his wife only to realize that he’s being framed. "I've arranged a trip: Follow your beloved river, up up up! And you don't even have to worry about finding your anniversary present. This time the present will come to you! So sit back and relax, because you are DONE." (Flynn 288) This was the last note she gave to Nick which would be what the reader would receive in the app and they would have to complete the book to see what happens.

The Gone Girl app will work because many people enjoy technology and this would add to the effect Gone girl already has. Since Gone Girl is a best seller this would make the book sell even better than it already does. It lets reader live inside the book of Gone Girl.  This app allows people who have already read the book to obtain a deeper understanding. It allows them to utilize their imaginations and pretend to be inside the story of Gone Girl. This newly formed app also allows people to see the world that these two characters live in.

 

 

What is a Book?

A book is an escape. Think of a book as moving to a new place, you do not know anyone or the background of this place. Constantly when you read its like moving to a new place always landing somewhere new. Creating your own picture of this place. That's what a book does. It gives you an escape. When I'm stressed I read. Sometimes it makes me feel better about my life... Ha! That sounds bad. But you get my point. The story makes you feel special, like a writer gave you a personal invitation to be inside their mind for a bit. A book is tangible, it is that personal invitation. Take away that it's just a reminder of how impersonal the digital age has become. When someone sends "I love you" over text, while it is meaningful-it doesn't feel the same as if they looked in your eyes and said the same little three words again. Personality, and spunk. You look at a book and you get a feel for the author. I feel the excitement every time I walk into a book store and can see all the options I hold to escape, to move into a new world. Books aren't this thing that should be tossed aside. All those tech savvy people who believe "Oh, a book is just another CD, or telegraph. Technology must change to better society." Fahrenheit 451,while I hated this book with a passion and my favorite part of this story was when it ended-there was a wonderful point made. Books matter. Eventually people will forget that books are even important. Why read books when there is more important things to do? I can see that being the viewpoint now. And to be honest e-readers don't change the reading world they don't make people who don't read, want to read. Neither my dad or my mom read for fun. And my boyfriend doesn't either. I've asked him why he doesn't read and he says he always feels forced to read. Even if he could pick any book in the world. Now, maybe I am being somewhat dramatic but, if the e-book world thinks that getting rid of the "book" will make the world a better place it won't.

Why I Read......

I read because when I was in kindergarten I struggled to read very badly. It was difficult for me to understand reading and the concept. So my grandma decided to help me since she once was a kindergarten teacher. With her help along with keeping in contact with my current teacher, they were able to get me on track with reading, to the point where I was ahead of grade level! So by the time first grade came around I was the only kid allowed to read chapter books at the time. My love for reading just took off from there. And now with being in color guard and all the workload being dumped on you as junior, reading becomes harder with the little time I have. I still love to read when I do have time because I like entering a new place and getting new perspectives. Reading has always been a new outlook and an adventure. It helps relieve stress for me and gives me the opportunity to sleep better. Reading has always been there and is one thing I know will always be available to me. And I just hope that I get to share my love of reading with other people who have a passion just like I do.