1984 (Week 11)

December 4, 2015

I love how totally ridiculous utopia is because it allows me to think about how we live in modern day society. Some concepts, even in 1949, are still present today.

For example... The vulnerability of children. In 2015, each upcoming generation is called "the future". We are the future of world as we know it. We are the new opportunity to change the world as we know it today. We are the next chance to create a lasting effect. This is so easily seen in 1984. Even though this part had been described rather quickly in the book, it stood out to me. On page --, adults over thirty were often afraid of their own children!!! Why? The intelligent people of Airstrip One understand that children are vulnerable at these younger ages. You can easily instill flawed values and ideals when they're young and make them more powerful than they even realize. So many of the children of this society simply adore Big Brother and all the malevolent ministries and leaders associated with him. By making the actions of the government appeal to hold ten at these younger ages, you essentially create a military of children, figuratively speaking. Allowing this new generation of brainwashed minors have the power that they don't understand that they have keeps everything in this area steady. Parents now really have to watch every single thing they say, do and even think because now Big Brother is watching you through your own children! It's incredibly smart but alarmingly unsettling, so you basically can't live your life or have a brain and think for yourself. You need not think for yourself.... Big Brother does it for you!!!

Here's another problem... Winston's uncontrollable thoughts of rebellion against Big Brother. This is blatantly obvious but it needs to be addressed. His spontaneous writings in his diary that basically make him look like a Eurasian spy and they're unctrollable flow of negativity as they flood the page is scary. Where are these thoughts coming from? Why does he have them? Why is he recording them??? Winston doesn't even have an answer to these questions! I feel like this is definitely going to cause some issues in the future, especially since he works FOR THE PARTY. That is extremely dangerous. If he isn't careful, the Parsons children are going to be begging their mother to see Winston's shameful hanging instead!!

1984 (Week 10)

November 27, 2015

Finally on to a new book!

I'm not very far into the book as time stands, but I am going to record my initial reactions to the first 10 pages (as this is how far I am at the moment).

1.) This place seems ridiculously depressing. Everything seems so dark and grey. I mean, I do realize that this is taking place in London which is often cold and rainy, but this is just plain sad. All of Winston's sights make me feel empty inside. Winston himself is pathetic, being described as small and frail. And that Big Brother sign? That's definitely creepy. Like, even in modern times; I realize that the government is essentially watching us all and red-flagging people that seem suspicious, but an ominous poster posted EVERYWHERE in town to remind me of this constantly with eyes that stare directly into my soul? Yeah... no thanks. That'd just make me paranoid.

2.) What is with that ridiculous slogan? War is peace. Freedom is slavery. Ignorance is strength.  This is the quintessence of brainwashing. These statements are almost oxymoronic, right? Not even almost, they are. Anyone with a brain can easily see the absurd reasoning and logic behind these statements. Oh, excuse me... I forgot. You're not supposed to have a brain in Airstrip One. That's why we have Thought Police.

3.) I found it rather humorous that the Ministry of Love (or Miniluv in Newspeak) is the most guarded out of all the ministries. Seeing as it deals with the law and order of the country, you would expect it to be to the benefit of the people, at least you would with a name like "The Ministry of Love".  Almost like a love for the people. But in fact, this ministry has a love for control, and in order for people to not recognize the logical fallacies associated with Airstrip One's ideals, this sector would have to be heavily guarded. Saddening.

So far, as depressing and illogical everything is seeming like, I'm enjoying the book. I mean... this is only after like 10 pages in full honesty but I do like the tone of the novel. The way it's written is still provocative and even humorous at times and I appreciate that. I think I'm going to have a fun time with this book.

Free Post (Getting Rid of Homework)

November 30, 2015

I hate homework. Everybody does. The one thing all students can pretty much agree on.

If I could come home every day and relax, watch a little Netflix, waste time on social media... I would. But the existence of homework ruins this ideal for me.

The only problem: I don't want to get rid of it just yet.

Bare with me here, even though I just contradicted my first few statements. I didn't lose my ethos yet.

You see, the concept behind homework is appealing to me. Using the skills you learned in class at home, bettering your understanding of the skills. Using the skills outside of the classroom. Applying them to everyday life. I totally get that; appreciate it even. If homework did not exist, I would be making a lot more visits to my teachers each day, wondering about what I'm doing. I'm a logical person, so I crumble without having the logistics behind everything I learn in class. Having worksheets that mimic our notes allow me to go through things with my peers, my parents, other people with more experience... and that gives me security. It makes life more solid for me. So yeah, I hate homework, but not totally. The real problem is the amount I receive.

I'm totally alright with an hour or two, with additional studying and research. I look way too far into everything I learn so I know it from every direction. But when I'm stuck at home, losing sleep because I am a thriving Honors student with 8-9 hours of work to do... I'm not happy. The quality of my work begins to decline, my care level decreases, and I'm lethargic. I am unable to begin my homework without taking a nap beforehand, and depending on my level of lethargy, these naps can span for hours. Not a great combination, as you would assume. Then my grades slowly begin to drop, and I'm faced with a lower GPA. In a twisted, annoying way, homework is making it harder for me to succeed. Crazy, right?

I won't be extreme and make that an actual claim, but I will say this. If teachers could all work together to help lessen the load of work so I can actually enjoy my teenage years, that'd be great. They say high school is the best time of your life, yet here I am, staying up till the wee hours of the morning finishing up homework. Not even a book!!

Gone Girl (Week 9)

November 20, 2015

WHOO! Finally finished!!!

Man... Let me tell you. I feel so sorry for poor Nick, even though he's a cheater. I despise cheaters. After Amy lies to the public about her kidnap/rape story with Desi, she just mosies on back to Nick acting like they can actually live happily ever after. Nick is not stupid and KNOWS that she literally just murdered this man for fun. For fun. Maybe not out of pleasure, but because it'd be easier to lie to the public than tell them that she framed Nick. Wow... look at that sentence I just wrote. 

"...because it'd be easier"

As in, it'd be easier to kill Desi. It's easier to murder someone than tell the truth. Never thought I'd ever say that.

He can't even look at her without wanting to actually kill her. But knowing her implicitly explosive personality and quick thinking, trying to get away will only cause more problems. She will find something, ANYTHING, to ruin him and make her look like the winner. Because Amy always has to win. If she's not winning, someone's gonna die. So Nick wanders and ponders how he's gonna stay sane while he's stuck in this twisted relationship.

Can I say the ending on here?

I mean, this is a blog post so I guess I will. If you don't wanna know how the book ends, stop reading here. This will be your only warning. --SPOLIER ALERT--

If Nick wasn't stuck enough in the relationship already, there's DEFINITELY no way out this time. You want to guess how?

Come on, take a quick guess.

Pregnancy. Yep, and it's REAL this time!!

Even though Nick never even dared to touch Amy since her return, she still had Nick's semen in the clinic from a previous attempt to get pregnant (before her disappearance, when she seemed normal). Now, not only is she pregnant, she's pregnant with a boy... The child Nick always wished he could have with Amy. He's gotta stay and promise to be the best husband ever by ALSO being the best father ever, or he's going to die, basically. Plus, he has to think about the child, because as Nick puts it, "You can hate a situation, but you can't hate a child." Fabulous words of wisdom, Nick. 

I wish you the best.

Gone Girl (Week 8)

November 13, 2015

Foreword:

I know.... it's taking me a long time to read this but it's not because I don't like the book. I love the book. This book is fabulously written and wonderfully holds my attention. School work just takes up way too much time.

Moving on... Amy is actually nuts. I have come to this conclusion. Fortunately for Nick, he figured out her game. He finally understood Amy for what she really is and figured out what he should do to get her to come out of hiding and come back home. So what does he do? He shows emotion!!! As mentioned in previous blogposts, Nick is not one to show a lot of emotion. So he belabored about how much he loved her and how he would be the best husband ever on national television. He publicly claimed that he was wrong. Crazy Amy just wanted to hear Nick publicly announce his faults. She wanted to make him do the one thing he never did during their marriage. He did it, and Amy decided to come back. Except she had been staying at her clingy ex's house, Desi Collings, and he wouldn't let her out of sight. Amy does not like to be doted on, nor does she liked to be controlled. So you want  to know what Amy does???????? She gets Desi to have sex with her, drugs him (which kills him), and hurts herself in ways to make it look like she was a victim of kidnap and rape!!!!! Exactly what I would've done! 👍🏽

But really... Amy is clearly a sociopath. What kind of woman has such little care and emotion towards others that she can easily just kill someone and pretend that he kidnapped her and raped her? What kind of woman frames her husband for murder? What kind of woman thinks that it's totally normal to harm yourself and blame others for the wounds? I'll tell you who: A woman who cannot live in society with the rest of us. She either belongs in jail or a mental hospital. This is the exact kind of person that will literally ruin you with you upset them. I'm all for equality, trust me... But she is unstable. Like an animal. We don't let stray animals stay in the streets, now do we?

Gone Girl (Week 7)

November 6, 2015

Oh my goodness, Amy is gooooood. Too good, that it's almost disturbing. No, it is disturbing. She's incredibly smart and talented, despite what people have always told her.

Amy set Nick up, crafted out this entire situation, knowing exactly each and every move Nick would make. That's why he stumbled so much. She created the "perfect murder", totally untraceable to Amy and entirely blamable upon Nick. Amy wasn't kidnapped; she simply left and left behind a questionable situation.

The diary? Totally made up. Well, not 100%. Most details are actually true, but her personality in the diary is fictitious. She wanted to make herself look just like a victim would, scared and sad. She wanted to show how much she actually loved Nick, and how much she tried to get his attention. She discombobulated the living room in the exact way Nick would, even down to mopping the blood they found in the kitchen that Nick would've hastily mopped. Yes, there was blood found in the kitchen by the detectives. How'd Amy do it? She took a box cutter knife to her wrist and cut down, just enough to bleed a lot but not deep enough to have to go to the hospital. Sickening, but smart. I cringed so hard at the detail she gave about her cutting herself. She purchased a purposely unnoticeable car so no one would bother to suspect it, and drove all the way down to Missouri Ozarks, a long stretch of cabins and motels far down from where they lived. She stopped at a gas station to cut her long blonde locks and dyed it brown, making her virtually unrecognizable. She then proceeded to rent a room in a motel and plans to watch her "perfect murder" plan unfold over the media.

I think calling Amy crazy is a bit of an understatement. I understand that she is bitter after 5 years of her trying to please Nick and make him happy when he would just ignore her and then even go as far as to cheating, with one of his own students. Yes, she also knew that he was cheating on her. She caught them one time as she was trying to surprise him at work, and continue to follow them day after day. Her anniversary treasure hunt led Nick to every single place that he cheated on her with Andie. The big surprise at the end was finding out that Amy was pregnant with a set of masochistic dolls that showcased a male doll dominating a distressed mother doll and her baby in hand. However... is it just me or is setting Nick up for the murder of his own wife just a little over the top?

Maybe I'm the crazy one.

Gone Girl (Week 6)

October 30, 2015

Wow, this book just gets better and better. Unfortunately for Nick, things are not looking good. As clean his conscience is, he's really starting to look like the culprit of this crime. Well, in actuality... his conscience isn't so clean. The media is NOT on his side. His passive-aggressive personality, full of irresponsibility and lack of remorse (towards Amy's disappearance seemingly) is coming to light, framing him as an obvious sociopath. Amy's friends are even turning on him, calling him out on national television and asking what he has done to Amy. On top of his reputation disintegrating, they find out that Amy is pregnant prior to her disappearance, and Nick didn't really want kids in the situation they were in prior to Amy's disappearance, due to the job situation. Just the type of information the entire public needed to find out.

Honestly, whatever happened in regards to Amy's disappearance seems staged. Nothing is quite adding up. The crime scene looked ridiculously wrong, totally made to look hasty. Amy's anniversary clues are not making sense to Nick, and he's struggling to figure out what they all mean. The last few clues. Nick really looks like he is guilty, but I don't believe he is. I mean, yeah, he's not showing emotion, he gets aggravated easily, and wait, did I mention that he's cheating on his wife? With his 23-year-old student from his Composition class?? Yeah... that sounds pretty bad. He even told her (her name is Andie) that he doesn't really love his wife. The media doesn't know about that yet, though. And on top of all of that, Amy's diary shows that she was afraid of her own husband, going out to buy a gun as protection from him. That's what the gun was for!!! It all looks terribly bad. If and when the police find Amy's diary, consider Nick finished, because it's disturbing. Amy looks like a victim of emotional abuse, as much as Amy tried to get Nick's attention day after day. Whether Nick is guilty or not, it seems like he will get charged and arrested anyway. I mean, I guess I kinda feel bad for him, but then again, he should've been taking better care of Amy. So really, in an intangible way, Nick's lack of consideration for Amy's well-being could play a major role of the cause of this situation...

Gone Girl (Week 5)

October 23, 2015

I decided that I'd dedicate this week to a passage that I highlighted that sparked my attention in reference to Amy.

"He promised to take care of me, and yet I feel afraid I feel like something is going wrong, very wrong, and that it will get even worse. I don't feel like Nick's wife."

Here, in her separate chapters, Amy had been discussing the event of them moving to Missouri (from New York City) in efforts to be closer to his father who had recently been diagnosed with Alzheimer's   disease. She had been upset because he had never told her about this and he became annoyed with her anger. She is beginning to feel farther and farther away from him, as he subtly pushes her away with acts like this. She is slowly losing her sense of identity. I totally agree with Amy, though, as her own husband should have brought up the topic so that Amy could have helped him somehow, whether it would be emotionally or physically. She deserved to know. Keeping secrets from your spouse doesn't usually end well, and Amy's mysterious disappearance clearly isn't a good 'end'. This easily could have been one of the driving forces to her leaving. This quote displayed the strong change that occurred within Amy's heart and mind, almost like a climax in a way. It is probably one of the most essential things that she says leading up to her disappearance.

Tipping Point

Oh, Tipping Point. I had an interesting experience with this one. You know it's a problem when your history textbook is more interesting and attention holding than your AP Language and Composition book. Why would anyone decide that writing an entire book using the same examples MULTIPLE TIMES for each point be a good idea? I mean, fine. It was definitely thought provoking and factual but this is not the kind of book I want to enjoy during my summer vacation. I'd rather watch a documentary. I'm a total nerd but I have my limits. The Tipping Point exceeds my limit. However, that's not to say that this was not a good book with solid concepts. It was definitely interesting to read. For example, a lot of the points he made, like environment having an influence on behavior and how emotions can often be contagious, were related to psychology. I adore psychology, so going through those parts and others definitely sparked my attention. On the other hand, other points mentioned in the novel had merely been facts, which I probably would've found more entertaining in an article online stating random fun facts about life. The style of this book is just not my cup of tea, I guess.

Gone Girl (Week 4)

October 17, 2015

There isn't too much analyze for this week. I honestly have been reading a little less than usual from natural reasons, as school literally starts to take over your life. However, this part of the novel is slowing down, as it's trying to develop the plot of finding Amy. So far, so good; my previously stated idea is becoming more and more like a reality. I really do think Amy is really just trying to test Nick's comprehension and speed with the clues she leaves behind. A man in Nick's town in Missouri had told him about this place in an abandoned mall where a group, referred to as the "Blue Book Boys", do crazy things at night. It doesn't go into detail, but it doesn't have to. You already know that they are unspeakable. Nick goes into the mall with a few friends and Amy's father at 11:00 pm (how unnerving) to check out the scene. I won't state every single detail, but eventually Nick finds a group of people inside and shows a picture of Amy to them to ask if they've seen her. Apparently they had, saying that Amy had attempted to purchase a gun from them.

A gun? Why would Amy ever need a gun? They [Nick and Amy] lived in an isolated town, she wasn't a cop, and there really weren't any real threats around that would require the use of a gun as protection. So I'm trying to think: Did she expect Nick to get this far in her little mystery hunt and find this clue specifically? Does this 'gun' represent something deeper, like a memory? Her treasure hunt clues always include descriptive imagery (in rhyme) about a memory they shared in a specific place, and the next clue would be found in that specific place. Or maybe it represents the sudden shock in their marriage from Amy being MIA and the pause of everyone's lives as a result from it, just like a gun quickly hits another and stuns them.

Or perhaps I'm just over analyzing this and the gun is simply a clue to show that Nick is on the right track for once and that he should continue to use his brain in order to move forward in this quest. I don't know, I guess I'll find out as I keep reading. I like my version though. #confident

On Writing

On Writing is a very casual, conversational type of book that actually teaches you how to write, and how to do it well. As humorous and subjective as it is, Steven King makes a lot of good points. I have never liked super uptight, factual type books (I'm looking at you, The Tipping Point), so I had no trouble getting through this one. I felt like his true personality spilled out onto the pages of that book. And if that's the case, I definitely like him and will be reading more of his books in the future. Let's get to the specifics, shall we?
First off, the structure of this book is amazing. I love organization, and each part of this book has a specific purpose. I enjoyed reading about his childhood and how writing intertwined itself from his early years. That's a real passion. If we're going to use some rhetoric terms here, then I'd say that King definitely has a lot of ethos in this context. He's a writer, has been writing from such a young age, and then he writes a book on how to write a book, basically. How much more credibility could you possibly need? Even though a lot of his suggestions are subjective and biased in his own ways, people will still want to take his words into consideration since he has been so successful in his field for a very long period of time. And honestly, a lot of what he's saying makes total sense. If you do set up the context of the situation correctly and describe the characters well enough, do you really need to emphasize to the reader how each line of dialogue is said with an adverb? I have been told my entire life that using "said" was not good enough or too child like. This is how I have been taught to think. If you really think about it on your own, then you realize that King actually has a point.

Gone Girl (Week 3)

October 9, 2015

I have officially made (and past!) the beautiful 20% of this novel, and just like I stated last week, I am not putting it down. It's just too good. I like the structure of this book because it allows me to get a lot of background information without interrupting the text. The story is told from 2 different point of views, except Nick's writings are in the present and Amy's writings are diary entries from the past, to help the reader develop a better understanding of the events occurring in the novel. That was an ingenious idea. Good job, Gillian.
As I was reading, Nick said this awesome quote below. He is still in shock with the disappearance of Amy, and is really not handling it well.

"If we are betrayed, we know the words to say; when a loved one dies, we know the words to say. If we want to play the stud or the smart-ass or the fool, we know the words to say. We are all working from the same dog-eared script.
It’s a very difficult era in which to be a person, just a real, actual person, instead of a collection of personality traits selected from an endless Automat of characters.”

Isn't that such an awesome quote? It's totally true. With specific events and specific experiences, we all have specific, designated words to say in response. If you don't say those specific set of words at the specific event, you're seen as rude or insensitive. It's really hard to actually be ourselves and be REAL in an age where reality is disfavored. Celebrities try to promote self-acceptance and confidence when they are not real themselves, spending millions to just magically fix their insecurities rather than handling them the way they tell young girls to. The quote actually reminded me of a song lyric from a song I like with a similar theme:

"We live in an age where everything is staged, where all we do is fake our feelings..." - Jon Bellion

As much as everyone encourages it, as much as your family wants it, as much as your friends crave it... You really cannot ever be your true self. Society just can't allow it, and it won't. Being plastic and pretending like everything is okay is basically the easiest way to get through life nowadays. Please tell me a time where someone truly expressed themselves and were genuinely applauded by the media. Can you even think of one? It doesn't exist. It's a very depressing thought, but this is the world today. A world full of deception and self hate and insatiability is what this new generation will grow up in. For all you adorable elementary kids, you'll be in my prayers. Enjoy your lives while they're still simple. They won't be that way forever.

Gone Girl (Week 2)

October 2, 2015

Alright so it's week 2 into this book and I am thoroughly enjoying it. It jumped right into the action and I love that. Wasting time and dragging along the introduction with over characterization, too much detail on the setting and not enough speed annoys me to no end. I'll provide a brief summary or what happened so you get the gist. I'll even add my own commentary in brackets before my full discussion. (I know, I know, we aren't supposed to summarize but it'll only make sense if I do, I promise.)

~ Nick and his [twin] sister Margo [as he continuously refers to as 'Go'] were at their privately owned bar [ironically named The Bar] talking about his 5th year wedding anniversary to Amy, which was that day. Very sentimental. Nick then quickly receives a phone call from his neighbor across the street named Carl, telling him that his house door is wide open and his totally domestic [and surprisingly unintelligent] cat had been sitting on the front porch. Nick proceeds to drive home a little while later, slightly alarmed and finds this to be true. The front door was wide open, the cat was indeed on the porch, a tea kettle had been left boiling [with basically all the water evaporated, almost caused a fire], a pressing iron plugged in for use, the house a big mess, and get this: No Amy. Amy was nowhere to be found. ~

The whole thing was so scary for me to read. I became so anxious as I assimilated each word, not wanting to read any further. My emotions often parallel with the action of the book. I get way too into it. I would have been so afraid if I came home to my door wide open. I always keep my doors locked. A tea kettle boiling with no more water to boil? I would thank God like 8 times for not letting my house actually catch fire. The fact that there was no blood anywhere makes it seem like a kidnapping. Perhaps the culprit knocked a lot of things down to make it hard for her to get away and tied her up or something. Anyone find it ironic that Amy got kidnapped on her wedding anniversary? I do. That can't possibly be just a coincidence... It's too significant. Like of all days to kidnap the woman? Ugh. At least Nick got the police involved ASAP and they got on the investigation quickly.
There's something else, though; maybe it wasn't a kidnapping, but just another one of those games that Amy plays. Each year on their anniversary, Amy would provide a set of clues including places where they shared tender moments to find the final prize, which would be the gift that she bought for Nick. Like a cute little mystery. Every single year, Nick was incapable of following the clues, as he often didn't remember the same moments that Amy remembered. As you would expect, it would upset Amy greatly. It's not that Nick doesn't care or love her, he's just a little oblivious to things sometimes. Perhaps Amy got fed up after 4 years of disappointment and she gave him the biggest mystery of all? A disappearance is a huge mystery and would definitely be a great test. It's a bit of a sick joke, but hey, no judgement. It's only a theory for now.

Gone Girl (Week 1)

September 25, 2015

My first reader's workshop book for the year is Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn. I have heard that it is an interesting read, so I thought I'd give it a try. It was indeed a recommendation from a fellow friend of mine (*cough* Abby Robinson *cough*). I have not seen the movie yet and neither has she, so once I finish the book I plan to watch the movie with her. 

I have not gotten far into it just yet. I'm telling you now, though, I am definitely not putting this book down. I love the tone of the writing. It is very sarcastic and casual, almost like you were talking to the characters themselves. If you were ever wondering how to hook me on while reading an essay or story, just throw in some sarcasm. That is all I need. It's just like Mr. Ellis's class. If you have him, you know exactly what I'm talking about. Within 5 minutes of him solely speaking, I knew I was going to love his class.

Let's not get ahead of ourselves, though. Allow me to describe the situation so you understand the general context. Two of the main characters (the story is told from both of these characters' points of view) are Nick Dunne and Amy, polar opposite people bound together by marriage. Interesting way for me to describe that, right? Amy Elliot is a sophisticated city girl, much like my own mother, honestly. Born in New York City, her way of thinking, her behavior and her overall personality reflect those of New York descent. On the total opposite side of the spectrum we have Nick Dunne, a country boy born in the rural state of Missouri. Missouri. I have nothing against the state, but that was definitely a surprise. Country boy and city girl... classic contrast. You can practically smell the chaos arising. 

Take a deep, long inhale. 

Do you smell that? You do?

That is the stench of foreshadowed chaos. You better get used to it because I don't think it's going anywhere anytime soon.

In the book's abstract, I read about a guy being blamed for his wife's disappearance. Did I not just mention chaos? We're talking murder, folks. I don't know if I'm ready for this just yet. I am actually terrified. 

Perfect.

Unbroken

Unbroken was an interesting read for me. I did enjoy the book, believe me. It took me a bit longer than most of my friends to finish the book within my busy summer schedule, but I still did finish it as fast as I could. Alright, that's partially a lie. I finished as fast as I could with all the Netflix breaks in between. I mean, come on... this is my summer vacation. Spending hours on Netflix is basically a requirement. Anywho, I'm going off on a tangent here.
I am not a fan of the layout of the book itself, but I am a fan of the story and how it is told. The concept of longer pages with smaller fonts is a turn off for me, but it was easy to overlook with such a captivating story. Louie Zamperini is truly an inspirational being. This was the book that I probably annotated the most out of the three, most likely due to its scrupulous detail. I am utterly flabbergasted by the numerous situations times that Louie was actually faced with death. This man was a living miracle. Please tell me how many times that you actually hear about a guy that passes out while drowning in deep ocean water somehow wakes back up and survives the 800 foot swim back to the surface while being tangled in plane wires. Exactly, you can't say because it simply doesn't occur on a day to day basis. Or ever, really.  But somehow Louis Zamperini handled it and I give him full creds. I mean, if a plane crash survivor can pass out, drown and wake up with oxygen, I definitely should be able to run that one minute jog in gym effortlessly, yet I still complain about it every single day.
I'm not one to critique much, but there's a threshold for all things. Once you pass that threshold, it's just way too much. That's how I felt about all that detail. I love detail, I love imagery, I love description... but remember, thresholds. There was way too much unnecessary detail going on in this book. Like it started to bore me sometimes. I wanted to enjoy my summer reading, I wanted to vibe with the text, but how am I supposed to do that when I'm bored? I simply can't, and I put the book down. Things like that are what make me unmotivated to finish my summer reading. I pushed through it all, but it took much longer than it should have. I mean, at least I still enjoyed the story.
I think that the will to live is what allowed Zamperini to be able to live through such harsh conditions. On page 182, he describes himself as "a dead body breathing". Can we just take a moment to understand how significant this is? He was straight up dead. Long past starvation, his organs are probably on their last legs. He's looking pretty sickly right about now. So many people surrounding him are dying just the same, losing their sanity in the process as well. But his internal will to live, never giving up and always pushing through got him to live to be 97. That's a favorable quality and probably something everyone should think about. If you were looking for a call to action, here it is: LIVE! LOVE LIFE!! If you're strong enough, if you live enough, you'll be just like legendary Louie. #goals