Review #3 (The ending and my thoughts)

The Ending

       I have to say that the ending of this book is quite horrible in a way but, it's the only way it could have ended so I'm content with it. Spoiler Alert but, Nobody gets revenge on his parent's killer and is basically kicked out of the graveyard. Everyone tells him its time for him to live out in the world and then can come back to be buried there if he chooses. He asks Silas about who he is and what he does as a guardian, almost asking as if how to be one, could be more books? All of these things, in a way, disappointed me because the whole book was about when he was a kid and then boom, he just has to leave and go life a normal life. Maybe its not so much how it ended but, maybe its the fact that I just want more and as of now, there isn't second helpings. The book as a whole was very delightful and was keeping me just wanting more as I was reading, just wanting to know what is next. I can tell it was a good book because I read it almost around two days, mmmmm mmm have to love good books. The characters seem visible, the plot is intriguing and eventful, there is a constant forwardness to the book that gives it a fast pace. The only thing I would have to say could be better was, it seemed as if 80% of the book was leading up to the climax and then the last 20% was climax and resolution. I like everything well balanced, a nice long book around 700 pages, but hey, that's just what I prefer. Then at least it doesn't take me two days to read, and everything is rapped up in 100 pages.
      I really can't say anymore good things about the book, it had everything you needed in it and the only problem is just not having more of the book to read. Most of the book can be very morbid and unsuspected in that nature but, it just adds to the realism of all the ghosts in the graveyard. Little details of things like what is written on the headstone of each ghost that Bod talks to. You are almost developing a image of a family for a Bod as you progress which is maybe why I hate the ending so much; everything you worked up to is just gone. Would something like that ruin a book for you, or would everything else be more important? Cheers.

Review #2

Character Analysis

         Nobody Owens: Nobody is the main character in the book, he starts the book and finishes it. During the book he is also referred  to as Bod, which gets mistaken for bob a couple times. He is portrayed as a pale ghostly looking kid that is taller than average and has blonde hair. Curious and inquisitive like kids are, Bod continuously gets in trouble with his parents, guardian, and teachers. He would be considered the protagonist, doing things the right way and always trying to help others. 

         Silas: Silas is Nobody's guardian since he was a toddler. He is not bound to the graveyard like other residents so he can get food and clothing for the child. He is portrayed as an very intelligent, very tall, very pale, and very old. He seems to know everything but can admit when he doesn't know of something. Although Nobody has a father, Silas would be considered a "father" in every sense of the word. He is like a stern old dad that knows about a lot of things.

        Mr. and Mrs. Owen: These two are basically Nobody's parents, considering his real parents are dead (I'll get to that). They are ghosts in the graveyard that never had kids and are the ones who convinced the rest of the residents of the graveyard to let the boy stay. They are always in the book but not as important as Silas. They are almost there to just fill that role as parent.

       Jack of All Trades: These are multiple characters; the main Jack is the evil character in the book, or in other words, the antagonist. Other Jack's come in later but are very brief and do not matter. The main Jack, Jack Frost, is the one who killed Nobody's parents and tried to kill him. The entire book the man Jack is always looking for Bod, and Bod is just training and learning to survive in the real world waiting for him.

      Liza The Witch: Liza Hemplock is pretty much like Nobody's wife or future wife I suppose. She protects him and flirts with him, gets him out of trouble, and even saved his life. She died when she was younger because she was a witch, she was burned, drowned, and hung. Bod describes her in the beginning as ugly and whatnot but, later he seems to be describing her as beautiful.

      Scarlet Perkins: I'm not really sure how to approach describing her really. Bod and Scarlet were friends when they were kids and somehow met again when they are older. She seemed like she would be with Bod but, out of no where, after Nobody saving her life, she looked at him with fear. She feared him and so Silas erased her memory of all of it. Right after that too, Liza kissed Nobody before he left the graveyard and said to tell her that he would miss her. So Scarlet gets just erased.

Cheers.

A Book is...

      I think it was already said before but I don't think a book is just pages in between covers. A book is more of an idea, it represents everything the author did and tried to do over however long it took for them to finish it. A book is a baby, its a baby that is nurtured carefully and slowly and its parents are the author and editor. When I was trying to type up an assignment for creative writing my mom said one of my ideas seemed predictable but, I told her its not about originality and cliche, its about perspective and emotions being conveyed, ideas being shared in ones own way. On the other hand though, I'm sure there are many authors that aren't looking at this way. They probably look at it as just another job because it comes easy for them and they just write something up just because they have reputation and mass produce it, make millions. I mean, look at Hollywood and their movies recently. Yes, there are some new and amazing movies coming out that are true art but, sequels to sequels and remakes of movies that have already been done just to make a quick buck off of new generations. It wouldn't surprise me if some authors did something like that and got away with it, maybe, The books after "Enders Game" were somewhat like that. Same story just from other characters perspective, lame if you ask me. Without competition in those industries, we just get recycled crap because no one is pushing anyone else to make better movies or books. All in all though, the definition of a book might just be pages bound together but, a book is a baby, thought, and idea of others perspectives.  

Review (First Impressions) 1-3

A bit late on this one but, I got the book and I've sunk in its beginning chapters quite quickly I'm afraid. The thing with good books, or at least books I take in interest in, is that once I'm in it, I'm in it until I'm done. It's a love hate sort of relationship, I want to taste the intricate delicacies of the meal, savor the thoughts and creativeness that went into its preparation, but I'm a fat kid at heart, and fat kid want cake. So I expect I'll be done with this book in a matter of days, seeing how I'm already a third of the way through it and its been in my possession for a day.
     The idea of the book itself is what hooked me in the first place, the story of a boy growing up in a graveyard and raised by ghosts...very nice. What I didn't expect though, was the morbidness of it, the very real images that are portrayed right off the bat. A man sneaking in a house in the cold of night with blood pooling on the hardwood floor and a knife in his hand stained already. All that remains is a child, a child that cannot be found by man but, by ghosts. Ghosts that decide whether or not the boy should live, and if he should life with them...In a graveyard.
    What I'm already loving about this book is that it allows me to picture everything vividly but while having restraints by the words on the page, almost like a perfect tango between the reader and the author's words. The characters (ghosts) are explained very well, by telling me parts and pieces of how this idea of ghosts raising a living child would work but, still allowing me to piece it together myself. The boy is named Nobody, or what you come to conclude in the next chapter, Bod for short. A man named Silas is his mentor, guardian, and his teacher. He is mysterious fellow that minds his own business and doesn't abide by the same rules that the residents of the graveyard have. You come to find that he was also "given the freedom of the graveyard" and that is why he is not bound by rules of other ghosts. Perhaps I'm rambling and not doing any of this correctly but, what I can say is that I love this book already and can't wait to finish it (sort of) in a couple days. Cheers.

Response numero 2

I'm glad we are talking about things that are very subjective and that I can actually take a sort of interest or side on. When considering what is wrong and right with our education system regarding English  its hard to determine what is bias and what isn't so, I'll just give out my opinion. The first place that I would start if say, we were restructuring everything from the ground up is considering whether or not what is in place is effective. Yes, you are exposing kids to books and literary genius through books that have impacted our society. Yes, that is great and all, but more importantly you are making generations of kids hate reading and the literary world. On top of forcing kids to read things they don't like and only showing them one side of the curtain, schools feel the need to sit down and analyze everything to a point that is ludicrous. I'd say for me at least I can usually read something and understand what is meant and all of the pretty figurative language on my first go around, maybe I'll go read it once more to really soak it in. If you break a book down into notes and worksheets to fill out, if you ask me, kills the actual art of the book. You are turning a painting into just brush stokes, you are debasing a sports play into just running around with a ball. If we are sitting down and treating books like math class then kids are going to hate math, and books. Reading should be explored on your own with maybe a push by someone who knows a good book or two, not a math class.Cheers.

Reflection (kind of)

Being that this is the first time I'm doing one of the reflections, there is going to be a vague line of what I think what I'm supposed to be doing and what I'm actually talking about. We talked a lot about best seller so maybe I can shed some light on Brody's perspective. I think in general being on that list of best sellers can only mean two things. That book is so original and well put together that it surpasses all other books around it. Or, the book has been dumbed down to generalize for anyone and everyone to relate and understand, or the book could be gaining traction with the public because of controversy. Books that just push envelopes aren't break through, they are just trying to spark something to create publicity for their book. Most people whether they like it or not, know of that book now because of the drama caused over it. Maybe looking at other prizes on a book would help determine if the book is literary or not. but hey, who am I to say so? Just a kid with an opinion, take it or leave it. What else is there to reflect about? The class maybe? Sure. This class only makes sense to be online, its almost like a book club where we meet twice a week. I'm excited to read some new books and organize my thoughts through these reflections and maybe gain some perspective through other people's comments. I think that is about all I got, like I said, vague line...too informal or just right, journal, or grade? Cheers.