Raistlin Majere is an exceptional character since he is a primary protagonist and antagonist in the trilogy. Raistlin was born to a normal peasant family, though he inherited a strong connection to magic from his mother, who sometimes experienced magical trance fits. Even though he was born powerful in magic, his physical condition was never good. He was born very sick and almost died soon after. Raistlin started practicing magic at the age of six and in his early twenties he took the test of magic that every wizard has to complete. His health was even further damaged during the test and he was cursed with golden skin and eyes that see only the death and decay of all things.
Even the powerful have weaknesses
27 Nov 2010 Leave a comment
in Character analyses, Test of the Twins by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman
The book with a poor plot
22 Nov 2010 1 Comment
in Book reviews, Matilda by Roald Dahl
The book Matilda tells about five years old girl who have developed faster than others who are same age that she is. For example she reads adult literature everyday like Hemingway or Dickens. In addition she is smart and kind. So you might think that everybody love her but that’s not entirely true. Matilda’s parents are stupid and shallow people and they think that instead of reading Matilda should only watch TV.
Matilda’s parents treat her like a crab so Matilda start to do them all kind of little pranks. This is how Matilda tolerate them better.
In this book Matilda goes to school in first grade. The headmaster of the school is terrible, like a monster and she treats the children very badly.
The ending of the book is still happy.
I think that this book was very childish by which I mean that this book was more children book and I think it did not have a lot of content. The beginning and the ending of the book were equally poor and the middle of the book was boring.
Matilda was a poor figure and Roald Dahl’s writing style was too. I only recommend this book for children.
Here is ten difficult words from the book:
Devouring: Kuluttava
Astounded: Hämmästynyt
Compassionate: Myötätuntoinen
Tamper: Väärentää
Crookery: Petkutus
Trade: Kauppa
Stewed: Haudutettu
Proceeded: Eteni
Drill: Pora
Plot: Juoni
Neither Alive Or Dead
21 Nov 2010 1 Comment
in Character analyses, The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
Silas is a minor character in The Graveyard Book by Nail Gaiman. Silas is Bod’s guardian. He has volunteers to raise Bod, when Bod was adopted by the Owens. Silas’s duty is to bring food to Bod and to educates him. I choose Silas because, he is my favorite character. More
shepherds treasure hunting
21 Nov 2010 2 Comments
in Character analyses, The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
I chosed the protagonist of the book named Santiago to my Character analyze as he is always wanted to travel all over the world and his goal is to get treasure that he always dreamed. Travelling to the Pyramids in Egypt he meets an Alchemist man who tell about different omens and lifestyles.
Santiago is a nomadic boy from Andalucia, who has been travelling all over Spain. To be a poet would be his purpose, however finding a treasure is the more target of his interest then he decide to become a traveller. To actualize his dream he spend money to reach the Africa onto the treasure. As he reached to The Africa he found a partner and have some relations with her.
On the basis of my interpretation, i’m not sure if Santiago is very wise or unwise, as Santiago believe prophecy of the people like that and do it accordingly without using sense, though he don’t care about others opinion. On the other hand he is very valiant on travelling in different places and getting to know new cultures. Also Santiago is good to learn for example learning to talk using new language and make use of it. Santiago can understand how others behave for example in his place of residence he realize what sheeps needs, on the unknown places the world is of another kind.
10 challenging words:
shout = huuto
omen = enne
coincidence = sattuma
uncertainly = epävarmasti
purification = puhdistus
Sentinel = Vartiomies
exultant = riemukas
evokes = herättää
vessel = alus
discipline = kuri
Mind map of protagonist
Coelho, Paulo. 1988. The Alchemist. Hammersmith, London W6 8JB. HarperCollins.
The abused Alise
21 Nov 2010 1 Comment
in Character analyses, Dragon Keeper by Robin Hobb
The Dragon Keeper by Robin Hobb, publisher Harpervoyager, published: 25th June 2009 in UK
As one of the main characters in Robin Hobbs book: The Dragon Keeper, Alise is described very accurately. Alise is a kind girl in Bingtown and with age of 18, she was introduced to Bingtown society. Well, that was three years ago, and nobody really thought she would be a “nice catch” (just as the book says). Then suddently a handsome man Hest Finbok seems to be intrested in her. But with her scholarly researches she desires to go to the Rain Wilds treetop city and see the Dragons hatch from their cocoons. She makes a very difficult decision relating to her ambition and her own future as a woman. She made the choise that seemed worthy at the time.
Alise is an freckled girl with humane moral and a big heart, that doesn’t change during the book. She has an obsession to dragons and Elderlings. Hest Finbok which I mentioned before, is a wealthy, handsome and charming man, who is intrested in Alise. However later it will be discovered that he truly is intrested; in a unjust way. He wants an woman who doesnt get in his way in business or in own social life. This means that the poor girl Alise is being abused just because nobody wants her.
I think myself that Alise makes wise desicions and she is just adorable girl. But I feel sorry about her destiny to be abused as wife. Her only wrong choice was to marry Hest, because he treats her like trash, but still, Hest is a wealthy guy, and it will help with her studies to buy everything she needs. Although she is treated like dirt, the force she is driven by comes from her studies and enthusiasm of the future voyage up the Rain Wild river to study and learn of the dragonlings. If you want to know the conclusion of her studies and the Dream of travelling up to Rain Wilds; I suggest you should read the book!
The 10 difficult words in The Dragon Keeper
1. abrasive – hiertävä, raastava, hyökkäävä
2. extrusion – puriste, pursotus
3. gallantry – urhoollisuus, ritarillisuus
4. extravagant – liioiteltu, komea
5. smothering – tukahduttaminen
6. indulge – antautua, tyydyttää
7. infatuation – ihastus
8. preoccupied – keskittynyt, syventynyt
9. gauzy – harsoinen
10. rejuvenate – piristää, elvyttää
Character analysis on santiago
21 Nov 2010 2 Comments
in Character analyses, The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
Santiago is young shepherd who sells hes sheep flock so he can realise he´s dream. In the narration Santiago is described as kind,brave and sympatetic. Sometimes he can be little gullible. Like when he traveled to the city and gave hes money to this boy whom introduced himself to Santiago as guide. But then he disappeared in to crowd leaving santiago without any money, But santiago showed guts when he continued to fulfill he´s dream afteir being scammed. He went to work in crystal shop to gather some money to continue he´s guest for the treasure.
He was brave when he went to tell the chieftain that the village would be attacked because if this had not happened he have had loose he´s head. This also showed that he was sympatetic as he cared for the lives of the villagers. He also risked himself in many situations for others which I think is altruistic.
At some points of the story he became little sceptical about his destiny. Like when he didn´t know what to do when he was supposed to turn himself in to wind hes guts kicked in and he managed to pull it trough. He also had strong belief that it was he´s destiny to find the treasure. The inner drive came from he´s dream. I don´t think that he is so strong person but with the inner drive from the dream he could do anything. He also was sufficient to do anything but he didn´t know that during the story , but he came to realise that everything is reachable if you try hard enough. And I think that´s whats life is all about with alot of motivation you can almost achieve anything. If you are willing enough you can do anything.
Hard words :
Game= riista
Dunes = dyynit
omen= ennusmerkki
superstitious= taikauskoinen
chariot= sotavaunu
curiosity = uteliaisuus
marvel= ihme
traitor = petturi
moor = nummi
disembark = noustamaihin
Brida has to have the courage
21 Nov 2010 2 Comments
in Brida by Paulo Coelho, Character analyses
Brida is a leading character in a book Brida by Paulo Coelho. She has everything a man can possibly ask in life. Good job, loving and responsive boyfriend and the whole life still ahead. But she also has urgent need to seek for knowledge. Brida wants to learn to understand the world and its mysteries. She is a determined, young and unknowing woman, who has to be able to take risks, fail and not to be scared by disillusion. That’s why Brida is a interesting character, because being honest to your soul is troublesome for any of us. It’s encouraging to be a part whit Brida in her voyage of discovery.
The Magus and Wicca are Bridas mental leaders. With them she get acquainted with The Tradition of the Sun and The Tradition of the Moon. The are moments when she is tenuous and distrustful and doesn’t know if she is on the right path. But those moments coerce her to research her soul, and those moments teaches her to make decisions without hesitate.
The whole story solidify to finding our soul mate. “Our soul divides in two, and those new souls are turn transformed into two and so, within a few generations, we are scattered over a large part of Earth.– That is why, as well as divining into two, we also find ourselves. And that process of finding ourselves is called Love.” The more Brida learns about soul mate and magic, the more she begin to worry if she had chosen the right man. She is afraid that Lorens (her boyfriend) might not fit into her life, while she is getting more and more new point of views in life. Brida learn to notice simple miracles in the System and that way give herself up to sensibleness.
My opinion about Brida transformed many times while reading. That’s why i tried to portray her with many different kind of adjectives. I’m sure there are hundreds of interpretations about her. If you think yourself as a forbearing person, i can greatly recommend this book to you!
Visit Paulo Coelho’s blog and read more about him:
10 challenging words from the book:
1. aimlessly- päämäärättä
2. triumph- voitto, saavutus
3. abbey- luostari
4. subsequent- myöhempi, seuraava
5. appreciate- arvostaa
6. contemplate- ajatella, pohtia, miettiä
7. enlightened- valistua, perehtyä
8. frailty- heikkous
9. exile- maanpako, pakolainen
10. resolve- ratkaisu, päätös
Book review of paulo coelho´s book the alchemist
21 Nov 2010 2 Comments
in Book reviews, The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
The book was intriguing. The plot was pretty ordinary but in the end there was a twist. Which made the plot unlike I thought it would be. So the book starts The boy has this dream about treasure in egypt. This dream leads the boy to adventure. During this adventure the boy progresses as person. I don´t know but there is something in these kind of books that makes me like them. The story is also about sentimentals of life. They aren´t bluntly told in the text but you can spot them if you read the text with idea. One thing that the books tells you is to hold on to your dreams and never give up which many people do. I like the idea that life is about searching for your destiny by living your dream or trying to fulfill it.
So this book made me think differently about what you should do in your future. You don´t necessarily need to have business career and be big boss to be happy. There is chance that you might have dreamed about something else and by doing it be happy.
Prefect is Perfect?
21 Nov 2010 1 Comment
in Character analyses, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
One of the protagonists in The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy by Douglas Adams is Ford Prefect. He is an alien that has been stuck on the Earth for 15 years. He was sent to Earth to gather information for the Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy but he never made it back to their spaceship and so he was left behind on Earth. He first enters the story when his good friend Arthur Dent (the second protagonist, an earthling) has a hangover and his house is being bulldozered. By this time Prefect already knew that the aliens were coming to destroy the Earth in just a couple of minutes and he was there to take Dent with him to the spaceship. More
How the childhood can effect a person
21 Nov 2010 2 Comments
in Character analyses, The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy
Rahel Kochamma is one of the main characters in the book I read, Arundhati Roy’s The God of Small Things. The book tells the story of her and her twinbrother Estha. They had a traumatic childhood and it effects them for the rest of their lives. The twins were separeted from each other when they are seven years old and next time they see each other after over twenty years.
Rahel’s childhood wasnt’ something every parent would wish for their children. Rahel and her brother Estha saw when their cousin Sophie Mol died drowning at the age of nine, she was two only years older than the twins. The incident had a big impact in Rahel, the honest, smart, introvereted girl.
Estha is very important for her sister even they are separeted very early. When Rahel was child, when her memory had just begun, she always thought her and her brother as we. She owns memories she describes she don’t have right to have. Even after many years after they were separeted, she has a memory of waking up one night giggling at Estha’s funny dream. So she could know for example even of some not so nice things which have happened to her brother, for instance when Estha was sexually abused, even she hadn’t been there.
Rahel has never felt socially comfortable. She was an extremely polite child with no friends. She was blacklisted in one school, expelled from the next one. Later she went to architecture school but didn’t finnish it. She marries an American man and lives America until she comes back to Ayemenem to see her brother.
The incidents of Rahel’s cihldhood effect how she sees things and you might say that the shady intimacy at the reunion of Rahel and her brother is something that wouldn’t have happened without their tarumatic childhood.
Difficult word:
drift-ajelehtia
lean-tukea, nojata
illegitimate-kielletty
clatter-kolina
amorphous-epämääräinen
Story of an indian family
21 Nov 2010 2 Comments
in Book reviews, The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy
I read Arundhati Roys novel The God of small things. It is published in 1997 and has won the Booker price same year.The book is a story about indian twins Estha and Rahel and their traumatic childhood and reunion after many years. The book describes the story of their family and their phases in the Indian society. The story mainly takes place in Ayemenem in Kerala, India from the childhood of the twins from late 60s to when they are in the age of 31 in the beginning of 90s. Roy self have spent her childhood in Ayemenem, which makes the places and people seem real.
The book includes lots of detailed portraying and places and people are described proper. Everything, both things and actions are described with numerous adjectives. “Once the quietness arrived, it stayed and spared in Estha. It reached out of his head and enfolded him in its swampy arms. It rocked him to the rhythm of an ancient, foetal heartbeat. It sent its stealthy, suckered, tentacles inching along the insides of his skull, hoovering the knolls and dells of his memory, dislodging old sentences, whisking the off the tip of his tongue. It stripped his thoughts of the words that described them and left them pare and naked. Unspeakable. Numb.”
Because of the precise narration and difficult words Roy uses, the language is pretty hard to read. The story is also a bit hard to follow because the incidents aren’t in a chronological order. I would give the book 4 stars out of 5 because Roy describes the story fascinatingly but it’s reading is a bit challenging.
The God of Small Things, Arundhati Roy, Flamingo 1997
Snozzcumber and phizzwizard
20 Nov 2010 1 Comment
in Book reviews, The BFG by Roald Dahl
If you want to read book of giants which isn’t too serious, The BFG is your book. The book is written by Roald Dahl who is also author of Charlie and the chocolate factory.
Into the story: At night a girl named Sophie lay in her bed but she can not sleep. She stands up and go to windows, it is the witching hour and she don’t expect anyones to be on road. Suddenly she notice something black and gigantic moving closer, it stops front of the Goochey’s children’s bedroom and blows something in the bedroom, something black. Sophie is frightened by creature and hides under her blanket. At the next moment Sophie is flying through the air sitting in on the creature’s hand. The adventure of Sophie with giants is about to begin. More
Bathrobe and the Galaxy
20 Nov 2010 1 Comment
in Character analyses, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
Arthur Philip Dent,one of the protagonists in the book the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, is a character of controversy. He is the only human to escape planet Earth before it gets demolished. Arthur wakes up with a hangover in his house, and as he gets outside he notices that his house is about to be plowed down by bulldozers. He decides to go lie in front of them to stop it. His friend, an alien, Ford Prefect comes to meet him outside the house and they make way to a bar. From there, their travel across the Galaxy begins.
Arthur has some troubles with his lifestyle, as he wakes up in the beginning of the book with a hangover and wonders why does he actually have a hangover. That’s why you could say that Arthur is not in a full control over his life and kind of goes with the flow as they say. He doesn’t seem to be too worried about anything. He is a rather ‘neutral’ person. As the book is absurd in all its humor and storytelling, so is Arthur. I find him a confusing character from time to time as he has some odd routines and he seems to be a bit confused himself too. One funny thing about Arthur is that he always wears a bathrobe he had the morning the Earth was destroyed. Arthur also enjoys tea, even though it’s rather hard to find in the galaxy.
As humans usually, Arthur is also pretty adaptive. He is kind of forced to be adaptive though, since there is no ‘home’ to go back. He is bound to travel the space for who knows how long. At the beginning of the book he says: “If I asked where we were, would I like the answer?”, he asks this from Ford Prefect, his alien friend. As they have teleported to a spaceship Arthur realizes that his life just changed forever. Still, he remains his ‘neutrality’ and adapts to the situation. He is sort of anti-hero in the book, as he does not do anything heroic or be a leader, he just goes along from situation to situation, facing the weirdest things a man can. Overall, Arthur is an absurd character in an absurd world of an absurd book.
Mind map of Arthur Dent (click the picture to enlarge!)
Here is one version of the character Arthur Dent.
Man into space
20 Nov 2010 1 Comment
in Book reviews, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams is a world famous story of rather unusual and fast paced events taking place in our very galaxy, Milkyway. The book overall is a gift for humanity in its ingenuity. More
Thumbs Up For The Galaxy
19 Nov 2010 1 Comment
in Book reviews, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
The Hitchiker’s Guide To The Galaxy by Douglas Adams is a masterpiece with lots of twists and the narrator jumps from scene to scene really fast so it was sometimes a bit hard to follow. More
Ignorant or genius
19 Nov 2010 2 Comments
in Character analyses, Matilda by Roald Dahl
I read Matilda (1988) by Roald Dahl. It’s about little girl named Matilda who is definitely the main character. She is amazingly intelligent, she learned to read already in the age of two and she has inscrutable mathematical brain. Her parents don’t care about her and they ignore their little daughter and her needs. Luckily, Matilda is so smart that she can manage at home without her parents tutoring her at all. When Matilda goes to school, she finally finds reliable adult, her teacher Miss Honey. Miss Honey has a great respect towards Matilda and they become good friends. The dreadful headmistress, Miss Trunchbull, who hates everyone and has no mercy, terrorizes the school. Matilda, Miss Honey and other students in the school fight against Miss Trunchbull’s tyranny. More
Dragon Scholar Alise
19 Nov 2010 1 Comment
in Character analyses, Dragon Keeper by Robin Hobb
Character analysis
Alise Kincarron Finbok is one of the main characters of the book The Dragon Keeper and she is a self taught scholar of the dragons. She is 18 years old girl and she really loves the dragons and she likes to study them a lot. She is trying to learn everything she can about the dragons and that is her escape from all humans and her husband. Alises relationship with her husband is not good because her husband married Alise only because he wanted to continue his family. Alise didn’t know that at first and she married Hest because it seemed to be good for her because Hest is rich and Alise needed money. Later she found out that Hest married her for other reasons than love to Alise. That left a mark to Alises heart. Alise can speak to dragons and I think that she feels more comfortable with dragons than humans. Finally when dragons head upriver Alise and Sedric fights about staying with dragons. Alise doesn’t want to leave dragons and she complains about her life with his husband. Alise hates her husband and doesn’t want to go back to him so she has to decide if she wants to continue her mission of studying all she can about the dragons or will she go home. We will see that in the sequel.
My theory is that Alise lost her trust to her family and she wants to stay away from them by studying dragons and staying far away from home. I think she will never be able to trust people like before. She needs the support of her friends more than ever. I think that she will never forgive herself for marrying Hest.
Tale of crippled dragons
19 Nov 2010 Leave a comment
in Book reviews, Dragon Keeper by Robin Hobb
I red the book “The Dragon Keeper” and I just loved it. Robin Hobb described the enviroment, objects and living creatures unbelievably accurately as always. If you are intrested in fantasy or dragons like me, it is a wonderful book to read.
Book starts when serpents form from their “cocoons” (which are more like eggs of some sort). They use help of humans to travel through the landscape and beginning the reincarnation. Humans are helping the dragon Tintaglia to protect the cocoons from danger with an contract which makes Tintaglia to guard the borders between Rain Wild Forest and Chalced. These regions are in war with each other, and it is crusial that Tintaglia aids these war weakened people.
Later, the inhabitants of Rain Wilds, discover that the dragons which hatched from their cocoons were crippled, and only a few bad formed creatures made it alive to age of 5. It effects to the humans that is bounded with the contract with Tintaglia. Dwellers in the Rain Wild makes a decision that affects the life of Thymara and everyone else in the Rain Wilds…
If you were intrested… READ THE BOOK!
Typical African woman
19 Nov 2010 1 Comment
in Character analyses, The No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith
Precious Ramotswe is the main character in the book No.1 ladies detective agency. Mma Ramotswe had been living with her father who had built up a good-sized herd of cattle for Precious. He wants Precious to sell the herd and buy a store. Mma Ramotswe does and starts a detective agency, the only one in Botswana.
Precious Ramotswe is born in Botswana, Africa and she had been living there all her life. She is normal African woman so she’s a bit chubby, but African men appreciate that in woman so it’s not a problem there. Mma Ramotswe is wise, patient and intelligent. She tries to be gentle and fair for everyone so she has a good personality. Precious just seems that kind of person that almost everyone should get along with. With these facts I think she will be running her detective agency for a long time.
When it comes to her job as a private detective her actions are very wise. She solves her clients’ problems intelligently and patiently. However, when she was young she married a jazz musician called Note Mokoti which was a big mistake. Marrying Note Mokoti was an unwise decision but I think she learned from it and didn’t do that kind of mistake twice.
I think Mma Ramotswes motivation is her death father. Maybe Precious started a detective agency because she wanted to help other people when she couldn’t do that to her dying father. Other thing I noticed is that she clearly emphasizes the thing that she is the N.1 lady detective in Botswana. This probably tells us that she wants to be the number one in something. She loves to drive her dated tiny white van. This tells that she is pleased what she has and doesn’t need a brand new supervan. On the basis of the book Precious Ramotswe has a great personality and she is a colorful character.
Challenging words:
- porcupine = piikkisika
- rambling = sokkeloinen
- implications = vaikutukset
- mournfully = murheellisesti
- commemoration = muistojuhla
- obliging = velvoittaa
- corridor = käytävä
- cling = takertua
- tenaciously = sitkeästi
- contentendly = tyytväisenä
Gentle African Woman
19 Nov 2010 1 Comment
in Character analyses, The No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith
Precious Ramotswe is the main character of the book No.1 Ladies’ Detective Agency. She is a black fat woman who lives in Botswana in Africa. She says in the book that her body built is traditional and not fat. She also is very kind and she has a good heart. Mma Ramotswe’s job is to solve people’s problems and mysteries and she is pretty good at it. She forms her own detective agency and that is what the story is all about.
As I already said Mma Ramotswe is an exelent detective, because of her job she knows the law and always tries to do the right choices, but she is not perfect. For exemple she screwed up one case, where she tried to prove that the client’s husband was not loyal for the client. Anyway Mma Ramotswe only wants good for the people and for her country, Botswana, which she loves so much. That is why she become the detective, for helping people.
For all the people Mma Ramotswe’s dearest friend was her father who dies at the begining of the book. Her father teached her everything about Botswana, Africa, people, everything. That is why she became much stronger person after her father past away. And during the book Mma Ramotswe grows a lot as a person and as a detective.
Challenging words:
- scale – asteikko
- hunch – aavistus
- apprenticeship – oppisopimuskoulutus
- shrilly – kimakasti
- ashtray – tuhkakuppi
- pacify – rauhoittaa
Traditional African lady
19 Nov 2010 1 Comment
in Character analyses, The No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith
The No.1 Ladies’ Detective Agency tells a phenomenal story about Precious Ramotswe. She decides to start a detective agency and be the first female private detective in Botswana. Precious solves the problems quite well until something weird happens. She and her friend J.L.B Matekoni find a bone from a crashed car. Moreover, it seems like J.L.B Matekoni is in love with Precious. More
The fascinated world of adventures
19 Nov 2010 2 Comments
in Book reviews, The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
The unknown power of the world
Actually Paulo Coelho’s The Alchemist was the first book I have ever read in english and at first I was excited. And it was breathtaking! It’s one of the best-selling books in the history and I don’t wonder why. This astounding book tells about travelling, adventures, love, omens, destinies and believing to them. The book is really philosophical and it fascinated me. The Alchemist got me thinking about life and the power of the world while reading it. The main character’s intimidating adventures and ideology got me reading so that I couldn’t stop it and that’s what I love in books. Book’s incorporeity and glory draged me in. I recommend The Alchemist to everyone who likes adventures and has interests to the unknown world.
shepherd is valiant
19 Nov 2010 2 Comments
in Character analyses, The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
The Alchemist tells about a boy who wants to become a shepherd and travels around the Andalusia and sees the world. The shepherd makes his reccurent dream to come true by travelling to the Pyramids of Egypt to find his treasure what he has dreamt about. He travels throught the desert and meets an alchemist who teaches him about the omens and life. On the way to find his treasure the shepherd comes across of intimidating new situtations which are hazardous.
The main character of The Alchemist is a boy who becomes a shepherd. His parents want him to become a pope, but the boy’s aspiration is travelling. He is single-minded when he lives his family to follow his dreams and he doesn’t care about what others think. He is religious and he belives in God and in omens, omens what the world shows for him. Because of his deeply belief in God, the character makes just choices. His act can be wise or unwise. He finds his love and travels away from her to search for the treasure. I don’t know is that really wise but on the other hand, his aim was to find his treasure so why abandon a dream because of a woman he felt in love at first glance.
However, in my view the shepherd is really wise and brave. He has a courage to travel to unknown places where the culture is totally different than in Andalusia where he’s from and he trusts to people he has just met. Getting into difficulties actually means he could die, but the shepherd keeps his mind cold. He learns really fast new fine things for example, to speak the language of the world, feel the soul of the world and speak to it and he knows how to turn things into gold and change himself to a wind. The main character is round because he changes a lot as a person. At the begining of the book he knows how his sheep behave and that’s pretty much what he knows the best. But in the end of the book, he just doesn’t see the world, he feels it. He intuits the meaning of the life and becomes more sagacious person. That’s why I think the main charater is valiant.
10 changelling words :
- Omen = Enne
- Tribe = Heimo
- Conspire = Juonitella
- Oasis = Keidas, kosteikko
- Be obscured = Pimetä
- Apprentice = Harjoittelija
- Sentinel = Vahti, vartiomies
- Exultant = Riemukas
- Vessel = Alus, säiliö
- Veil = Huntu
Mindmap of Santiago, the main character
Bibliography:
Paulo Coelho. 1988. The Alchemist. Hammersmith, London W6 8JB. HaperCollins. 2002
Stupid and Innocent
19 Nov 2010 1 Comment
in Character analyses, Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
Of Mice and Men tells a story of Lennie and his best friend George who are on their way to work at a farm after many troubles that Lennie has caused at their previous working places. With their earnings from the job they would buy a very own farm where they dream to keep many kinds of animals.
At the farm Lennie and George live in a bunkhouse with other workers. While farm owner’s son is stirring up troubles Lennie tries to avoid them but finally things don’t end up well. After causing so many troubles Lennie gets killed.
Lennie Small is not a small guy at all. He is very quiet, tall and strong man but unfortunately not so intelligent. So he causes a lot of troubles for himself but also for his best friend George Milton. George helps Lennie but not always willingly.
Lennie is not a mean person. He is just not able to fully control his powers or things he says. As said in the book Lennie loves soft things and would want to have a pet. Few times he catches an animal for himself and pets it. First he wants to take care of a rat and then a dog puppy. But George prohibits those from him.
Because of his stupidity Lennie is not independent enough. Perhaps he doesn’t understand or he only thinks that George knows better what things are good and needed for him. If the not so smart side of Lennie is forgotten, the best sides will be brought into knowledge. For being very conscientious Lennie doesn’t avoid any kind of work but instead he always does his duties well.
Lennie doesn’t want anything bad to anyone so his destiny to get killed by his own best friend is unpleasant. However, everything always begins much earlier than stories describe. Though it is impossible to accept George’s decision whatever his motives really are. Lennie seems so innocent. Is it possible that a person without any bad thoughts and full of good purposes deserves only death instead of living out his dreams?
Challenging words
- Bunkhouse = punkkahuone, asuintila
- pet = silittää, hyväillä
- quick eyes = nopea katseinen
- excited = jännittynyt
- woods = metsät
The Graveyard Boy
19 Nov 2010 2 Comments
in Book reviews, The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
Bod, short for Nobody Owens, is not your ordinary boy. Human he may be, but the world he lives in is not your ordinary world. He was adopted by the dead couple Mr. and Mistress Owens. He was raised and educated by the people of the graveyard. His life is full of exciting adventures: the gate which lead to the ghouls’ city, the not ordinaries guardians he has, the witched whom he befriended and the exciting life of the graveyard. More
Nobody Owens
19 Nov 2010 2 Comments
in Character analyses, The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
I readed a novel called “The Graveyard Book” by Neil Gaiman and I picked the main character of book for my analyse. His name is Nobody Owens, also known to friends as Bob.
Nobody Owens got his exceptional name from Mr. Owens and his wife Mrs. Owens. They found him from the street when he was only two years old. His parents got killed at the same night by a cold-blooded killer who tried also kill Bod, but he found only a teddy bear from the cot. Bod’s curiousity saved him from sure death. He is a blond hair boy with courage and passion.
Bod lives in the graveyard. He is teached by Silas and Miss Lupescu and they train Bod to survive and decide his own destiny. He learned many helpful skills.
Here is snatch from the text, when Bod meets the oldest one in the graveyard: “Are you the oldest? asked Bod.” “The oldest in the graveyard? I am.” “So you were the first to be buried here?” A hesitation. “Almost the first,” said Caius Pompeius.”.
10 difficult words and translations:
- debate = väittely, kiivas keskustelu
- determined = määrätietoinen, päättäväinen
- reluctantly = vastahakoisesti
- withering = musertava, kuihtuva
- conquered = vallata, voittaa (imperfekti-muoto)
- encountered = kohdata, tavata sattumalta (imperfekti-muoto)
- punctuated = höystää, katkaista toistuvasti (imperfekti-muoto)
- hesitation = epäröinti, epäröiminen
- boulder = lohkare, järkäle
- coiled = kiemurainen
Bibliography:
Neil Gaiman, 2008, “The Graveyard Book”, United Kingdom
Sleep tight, ya morons!
19 Nov 2010 1 Comment
in Book reviews, The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger
The Catcher in the Rye is a multi nominated and bestselling novel by J.D Salinger, published in 1951. Roughly 250 000 copies are sold each year all around the world. It’s a book that has been both loved and hated; in 1981, it was the most censored, but also the most taught book in public schools in USA.
The narrator and main character of the book is Holden Caulfield, a teenager who struggles in life as he feels alienated from school and society and frustrated on almost everything. He is expelled from school as he fails in almost every subject. He leaves the school a few days earlier than he should, in the middle of the night and screams “Sleep tight, ya morons!” as his last words. He takes a train back home, New York, but he figures that if he shows up this early, his parents would know that he’s being kicked out, so he decides the spent the few remaining days in the city. He kills the time with the company of alcohol, hotels, smoky bars, a few strangers and a couple of old friends.
There’s no big action filled plot in this book. It’s the unique and strong atmosphere of the book that keeps the reader interested the whole time. It’s written in the first person and you become pretty close with Holden’s thoughts. The book feels like it’s Holden’s journal or a story that he tells to a close friend or family member. It’s quite descriptive and filled with his thoughts and emotions.
The language of the book is a bit rough. At the beginning, Holden admits that he has a poor vocabulary. His language is cynical and quite plain. His frustration is reflected on the writing style too; he finishes a lot of the sentences with words like “and all”. Holden uses funny idioms like “somebody had thrown his cookies” which means that someone had puked. There’s also a big amount of profanity in this book and Holden is often told how he should talk nicer.
This is the kind of book that really takes you away with it. It’s one of those books that you can’t wait to get to read again and you feel sad when it ends because it was so entertaining and terrific. It is popular among teenagers, but I think it’s a book that also adult may find sterling. It’s personal, funny, realistic and exciting. The best book I have read in a long time. A must.
Challenging words:
witty=naseva, nokkela
nauseating=kuvottava
disgression=syrjähyppy, poikkeama
jitterbug=jitterbug tanssi
ostracizing=hylkivä
adhesive=tarttuva, liimautuva
rubbernech=pällistelijä
seesaw=kiikkulauta
Turtleneck sweater=poolopaita
Lady in the Africa
19 Nov 2010 1 Comment
in Character analyses, The No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith
Number 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency, tells about life in Africa, especially life in Botswana. The main character of the book is Ramotswe, and she is the only detective in the entire region. The book tells of her Cases, friends and show her everyday life.
Its good that in this book, a woman is not typical skinny blonde.No, she is a middle-aged, large black woman.The book does not include sex, violence, gore or bad language and I have great respect for it.
Ramoswe is really resourceful, admirable and she always finish the case. She is also a caring and overbearing. In this book Ramotswe tries to help people with their everyday problems or cheating husbands. It’s intresting to follow other characters in this book but Ramotswe impressed me.
Ramotwe’s life has been rough. Her mother passed away when she was little and her cousin raised her and teached her a lot of things which she will need in her life. Later her dad died but she continued to run agency. She married a man named J.L.B Matekoni and I wish they start a family together. Cases were interesting but kind of short.
http://www.mindmeister.com/68490895/mma-ramotswe
Challenging words:
gore = väkivalta
overbearing = määräilevä
resourceful = neuvokas, kekseliäs
A boy who lives in the graveyard
19 Nov 2010 3 Comments
in Book reviews, The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
The Graveyard Book
by Neil Gaiman
I selected from the list a book called The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman. In my opinion it was a bit creepy to read and I guess the book is for children. Especially the beginning in the book was scary; “There was a hand in the darkness, and it held a knife.”, “a blade finer and sharper than any razor.”. Consider that in your mind.
The main character in the book is called by Nobody Owens, but his friends are calling him as Bod. I noticed one thing in the main characters name. If you research his name, you could see that the finnish translate for a word “Nobody” is “kukaan”. Then if you pronounce a word “Owens”, it almost sound like an english word “own”, which is “oma” by finnish. So if you put them together and try to translate that by finnish, the name would be “ei kenenkään oma”. That describe the beginning of the book, when the cold-blooded killer called Jack, kills Bods mother and father and his sister, who was older at that time than Bod, who was only two years old little boy. Jack the killer tried to find Bod, but all what he found from the cot was a teddy bear. Hunting has began.
So I meant by the research that Bod hasn’t anymore parents. He wasn’t biologically no-one’s child anymore.
As I said at the beginning, in my opinion the book was exceptionally absorbing and a pleasant reading experience. The book was easy to read, but sometimes I needed to check out som words and translate them.
Teenage Georgia
19 Nov 2010 1 Comment
in Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging: Confessions of Georgia Nicolson by Louise Rennison, Character analyses
I read the book Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal snogging written by Louise Rennison. The book tells about ordinary teenage girl Georgia Nicolson’s life. Georgia lives in United Kingdom and she is madly in love with Robbie, but she can’t have him cause he already has a girlfriend, Robbie is older than Georgia so he thinks that Georgia is only a little girl.
I think that Georgia is ordinary teenage who want’s to get more experience of boys, she want’s to start relationship with Robbie, also I think that she is a bit of bored her life and her family. She doesn’t understand that she has a long future ahead. My advice to Georgia is ” Take your time and don’t rush into things “. As we all teenagers have pressures in our appearance and so has Georgia too, she has this big nose, it’s so fanny that she is all the time complaining it, ” I hate my nose etc :)” . Typical teenager ! There must always be something that we don’t like, that’s fact.
How ever Georgia is a loving sister and she takes very good care of her sister Libby and she is in good terms with her parents. Maybe she is now unknowing teenager but when she gets a little older she is going to understand life better and mature. I would describe Georgia that she is an honest, nice and friendly young girl. Georgia has a lot of friends and she come along very well with other people.
One thing that I didn’t understand was that why she was so angry with Jas, cause she had this relationship with Tom. Friendship should always come first, not BOYS!
Ten challenging words
- swollen= turvonnut
- plucking= nyppiminen
- tweezers= pinsetit
- tainted= pilaantunut
- toothy=leveä
- cripping=mukaansatempaava
- substitute= korvata
- vending machine=myyntiautomaatti
- wrinkly=ryppyinen
- duty= velvollisuus
Survivors
19 Nov 2010 2 Comments
in Book reviews, Lord of the Flies by William Golding
It’s a well-known opening from many stories: a bunch of people in a desert island after a plane crash. However, in this case the survivors are schoolboys, the oldest ones less than 15 year olds. No, this is not an adaptation of Lost for kids as William Golding’s Lord of the Flies was published already in 1954.
William Golding, Nobel Prize awarded for Literature, pays attention to the outlook on life in a child’s point of view in his novel. For some kids the absence of adults’ means unlimited freedom to play as for some it’s a chance to test one’s independence. Comprehending the seriousness of their situation isn’t that easy, nor important for some of the boys. Golding keeps the story realistic when the shades of supernaturalism stems from the children’s own imagination.
Lord of the Flies is an intriguing description of young boys in an isolated location where wild human nature rules. For a reader this book offers a way to understand the difference between grown-ups and children. Plot is captivating with its vivid characters. In spite of all the psychological meanings of the story the reader still needs to know, will they or will they not survive.
Golding, William. 1954. Lord of the Flies. London: Faber and Faber Limited.
Piggy’s unseen power
19 Nov 2010 2 Comments
in Character analyses, Lord of the Flies by William Golding
William Golding’s novel Lord of the Flies sets a group of English schoolboys in a desert island. 12-year-old Ralph gets voted as a chief but not everyone understands the importance of getting rescued he is trying to point out. They get to eat and playing in the lagoon seems to be all the youngest ones care for, “—as a time when play was good and life so full that hope was not necessary and therefore forgotten.” A white conch represents democracy among the boys and the one who holds it has a right to speak. The number of the schoolboys is not mentioned but there are enough of them to split the group as rival tribes. More
Kindness for weakness
19 Nov 2010 1 Comment
in Character analyses, Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
Lennie Small is a protagonist in John Steinbeck’s book Of mice and men (1937). He and his best and only friend George Milton are ranch workers during the Great Depression in California. They have been fired from their previous job and they’re looking for a new one.
Lennie is simple-minded guy who is incapable of logical thinking. He let’s George do all the talking. For example, when they go to their new ranch they are supposed to work at, George does all the talking. That way he prevents Lennie from getting into trouble. And Lennie does indeed find himself in trouble often. I don’t know what it is but something in Lennie gets him into trouble. And he sure doesn’t want trouble, it’s just his destiny sort of. The book doesn’t answer the question why Lennie is how he is. I think he was just born that way.
He is very kind to people. He would never hurt anyone on purpose. That is something the reader need to understand while reading the book. The trouble always find Lennie. Not the other way around. His kindness also comes out in the form of loving animals. His obsession is rabbits and dogs. Especially rabbits. Lennie dreams of his and George’s own ranch where he can tend his rabbits. That fact tells much about his personality. He isn’t a social person. He talks almost only to George. He’s more interested in animals than in conversing with other people. And in the book he completely loses track of time while watching dog puppies.
Picture of Lennie tending puppies in the movie version of Of Mice And Men
Ultimately Lennie is a good person. He does unwise and stupid things sometimes but that is only because he is so simple a man. For example, Lennie is really strong but he can’t control his strength so he accidentally kills a woman. But he didn’t do it because he was a bad person. He wouldn’t want harm to anyone. And his loyalty to George testify to the fact that deep down he is a peace-loving man.
But on the other hand Lennie is a menace to George. George always has to watch behind him to keep him out of trouble. And still they have a very deep and respectful friendship, it’s almost like they were brothers. Lennie is also sensitive. He is not afraid of expressing feelings. You could say he is a genuine man because he doesn’t think much, so he doesn’t have any pressure from the society regarding what he should be like.
He doesn’t grow as a character in the book. He’s the same dummy throughout the whole book. And it’s good because I personally wouldn’t want Lennie to change because his personality is what the book is based on.
In a nutshell, Lennie is a heart-warming and very enjoyable character. Even when he does bad things, the reader knows it is not because his evil. He simply just can’t control himself sometimes and that is understandable. Of mice and men teaches people to respect differences between people. People are all equal but unique at the same time.
Mind map of Lennie:
7 words (didn’t find 10 challenging ones):
Bunkhouse = A room where a group of people sleep in bunk beds.
Pet = Love, cuddle
Quick eyes = A person with a precise sight
Excited = agitated
Woods = Forest
Purty = Pretty
On the outside = After, beyond
Bibliography:
Steinbeck, John. 1937. Of Mice And Men. New York: Covici Friede Inc.
In my sister`s shoes
19 Nov 2010 1 Comment
in Book reviews, In My Sister's Shoes by Sinead Moriarty
I read the book called In my sister`s shoes written by Sinead Moriarty in 2008. In general the book was great and the writing was easy to read and understand. I`would name it one of the best english books I have red in my life! I recommendit warmly to everyone who likes to laugh and read books with romance and drama.
The book tells a story about the O`Briens family and how everything changes when one of the family member gets gravely sick. Kate O`Brien is a thirty year old woman living in London and making her living as an successful presenter. She loves her life in London and everything seems to go perfectly until one day she gets an phone call from her sister`s husband. Her sister`s got cancer and Kate needs to go back to Dublin where her family and friends are, the only place she never wanted to go to and the only place she always wanted away from. Regardless Kates feelings she does the right thing and flies back to Dublin to help her sister and leaves her successful career and life in London.
In Dublin everything seems different for Kate and she doesn`t feel at home although her family is there for once. Her older sister Fiona is in a bad shape and stars chemotherapy that`s when everything changes for Kate too. After Fiona stars chemotherapy the whole family is desperately trusting her to get better. In my opinion this is the main point in the book when the whole plot starts.They are all afraid of the disease after their mother had died beacause of cancer when they were small. Although the whole family is afraid they try to be positive and help Fionas family as well as they can. The book shows a great example of family spirit and how they all love each others so much that they sacrifice thing for each other.
Kate feels distressed when she has no work in Dublin and she lives in her fathers house and takes daily care of her sisters lively twin boys. At first Kate hates her life in Dublin but seems to do everything for her sister. After a while Kate stars to love her life there; the twins,her family and of course her old boyfriends Sam from the past. After a year after all sorts of complications and disasters Fiona gets better and the whole family starts to feel happy, Kate decides to move back to London. Everybody tries to get her to understand that her life would be better in Dublin althoug she had no succesfull carees there.Kate has doubts but after she gets a job offer for making a document of her brothers rap career and her ex-boyfriend Sam want`s to give their relationship an other go, Kate decides to stay in Dublin and stars a new life there. In the end the whole family is happy and glad for Fiona surviving from the cancer. At last everything is ok after a long long time.
Ten difficult words from the book :
-
squealing= kiljuntaa
-
superstition = taikausko
-
frowning = rypistää otsaa
-
postpone = siirtää
-
tardiness = hitaus
-
pandemonium = sekasorto
-
ensued = seurauksena
-
urine = virtsa
-
sensational = sensaatiomainen
-
reckon = luulla
Not Alive Nor Dead, But Something In Between
19 Nov 2010 Leave a comment
in Character analyses, The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
Silas is a minor character in Neil Gaiman’s novel The Graveyard Book. The book’s protagonist, a toddler named Bod, finds his way to the graveyard where Silas dwells. He’s adopted by a ghost couple and Silas is assigned as his guardian, mostly due to the fact that he is “neither living nor dead”, so he isn’t bound to the graveyard like the ghosts are and thus can leave it to get food. I chose Silas for me to look more into because he’s the character that left the biggest impression on me, for whatever reason.
A mother and a survivor
19 Nov 2010 1 Comment
in Character analyses, In My Sister's Shoes by Sinead Moriarty
Fiona is the oldest of the O`Briens siblings. She has twin boys and husband named Mark and they both work on mathematics. She loves her family more than anything and devotes her whole life for being a good wife and a mother.
When the siblings were small their mother died because of cancer and their father became depressed after that Fiona took care of her family. She was only the age of thirteen but she already ironed her fathers shirts and made food for her sister and brother. While she was taking care of the familys well being her sibling were having fun and living their youth. She never got her youth back and inside she felt bad about it but no-one knew about it. Fiona was the one everyone counted and depended on. Maybe it was her childhood that made her be a responsible woman and a mother.
Fiona takes care of everybody and for example makes sure her twins have good and healthy life. She oftenly forgets about her own well being while thinking of everybody elses well being. Even after she gets cancer she isin`t concered of herself but of her close ones. But her family loves her and does everything to get Fiona feel better. After her chemotherapy she feels like a different person and in a way cancer changes her completely, Fiona starts to appreciate more the small thing in life and starts being more flexible with her strict rules . In my opinion Fiona is the wisest and most stable person in the story and of course a survivor.
“Evil is a point of view. We are immortals.”
19 Nov 2010 1 Comment
in Book reviews, Interview With the Vampire by Anne Rice
A gothic vampire novel Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice is the first novel of the world-wide famous the Vampire Chronicles. It was written in 1973 and published in 1976, and it is the first book to introduce us to the tantalizingly vulgar vampire Lestat de Lioncourt. Film adaption of the novel was released in 1994 starring now-days elevated actors; Brad Pitt, Tom Cruise, Kirsten Dunst, Antonio Banderas and Christian Slater.
Little Miss Vampire
19 Nov 2010 1 Comment
in Character analyses, Interview With the Vampire by Anne Rice
A poor, tangle-haired girl Claudia has lost her parents in the raging plague when Louis finds her. She is confused and with all the heavy tears in her eyes, she doesn’t even notice how the vampire floods his teeth in her neck. Claudia is turned into a cold blood, saved from certain death and yet cursed for eternity.
“She was not a child any longer, she was a vampire child.”
Life With the Dead
19 Nov 2010 Leave a comment
in Book reviews, The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
The story is set into motion when a curious character, the man Jack, kills the protagonist’s family. The protagonist himself, only a small child, manages to slip away and wanders into a graveyard where he ends up being adopted by a pair of ghosts. From then on he’s called Bod, short for Nobody, and raised by ghosts and other creatures.
The premise is certainly interesting, and the book managed to fulfill my expectations. Each chapter reads like a short story of it’s own about Bod and the trouble he gets into as he grows. This style helped to keep my interest and kept me reading and reading until I was done. The pictures thrown in also spiced up the text. By the end of it I was already so attached to Bod that the ending, though I knew to expect it, still managed to make me sad and happy at the same time. All in all I enjoyed the book a lot and would recommend it to everyone who likes fantasy and action and would like a quick, easy read.
Bibliography
Gaiman, Neil. 2008. The Graveyard Book. United Kingdom: Bloomsbury
Life in the graveyard
19 Nov 2010 1 Comment
in Book reviews, The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman is a story about Nobody Owens whose family was murdered by the man Jack when he was just a toddler and since then he has been living in the graveyard. He will be raised and educated by the ghosts, werewolves and other cemetery denizens.
The book begins with sentence: “There was a hand in the darkness and it held a knife” this captivating opening made instantly impression on me and really rouse my expectancies of the book. Each chapter of the book is a short story in itself detailing events that occur as Bod grows up in the graveyard.
I was a little bit disillusioned with characters depiction because I had read earlier Gaimans book Coraline where characters were almost described tactual and in The Graveyard Book characterizing remain in sketching level. But after all the book was enjoyable reading experience and it’s thrilling to followeth bods maturing when the book moves ahead.
This book would be a great choice for them who like abominations and fantasy with a pinch of truthfulness.
Bibliography:
Gaiman, Neil. 2009. The Graveyard Book. Great Britain: Bloomsbury Publishing Plc 36 Soho Square, London, WID 3QY
-Kristiina Matikainen
Bod – more dead than alive
19 Nov 2010 1 Comment
in Character analyses, The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
Murderer called The man Jack kills The Dorians family but the youngest only a little over year old toddler managed to avoid his family’s murderer. The boy ends up in the graveyard and he will be raised and educated by the ghosts, werewolves, other cemetery denizens and he also has a guardian who belongs to neither the world of the dead nor the living. They protect the Boy, Nobody Owens, called Bod for short untill he turns up fifteen years, to a young man and is ready to encounter his childhood enemy.
Why do we listen to our hearts?
19 Nov 2010 1 Comment
in Character analyses, The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
One night Santiago has a dream about finding treasure in the pyramids of Egypt, but before he finds out where the treasure is buried he wakes up. Santiago becomes perturbed about this dream as he has had the dream twice before and it always occurred at the same place, in the grounds of an old ruined church. Santiago wonders if the dream is telling him to go and fulfil his destiny. He finally gets the courage to ask his father’s permission to become a shepherd so that he can travel the fields of Andalusia.
Santiago’s lifestyle as a shepherd has provided him with a lot of freedom. All he has to do is allow his sheep to lead the way for a while and he will always find a new path. The difference between him and the sheep, though, is that the sheep never know they are on a new path. Once again, all they think about is food and water. Santiago realizes that dreaming about what you don’t have is what makes life interesting.That’s why he is particularly suited to findin his Personal Legend. And also he realizes that playing it safe is often more threatening to his freedom than taking a risk.
At times we see and feel his fear, but along his journey, he learns to listen to his heart and to trust what his heart teaches him. Santiago makes great change from beginning, to the end of his journey. He learns how to stay true to his dreams and to understand the desert. And he also descovers that “treasure lies where your heart belongs”, and that the treasure was the journey itself, the discoveries he made, and the wisdom he acquired. Santiago also says in the story that it’s the possibility of having a dream come true that makes life interesting and important.
Holden Caulfield
18 Nov 2010 2 Comments
in Character analyses, The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger
Holden Caulfield, 16 years old, is the main character and narrator in J.D Salingers novel “The Catcher in the Rye”. The novel is written completely from his perspective, so he gets well-known when reading it. Holden enjoys reading books and writing, but he hates movies. He’s rather tall and looks more mature than he actually is. A usual thing for him to do is to light up his cigarette and start walking down the streets of New York, eyeing on people and having an opinion on even the smallest things around him. He’s a young man who seeks for an escape from his life and his frustration and literally, tries to kill the time, because there’s really nothing notable to do in his life. His influence on other people is mostly upsetting them and getting them worried about him. More
The end of an epic journey
18 Nov 2010 2 Comments
in Book reviews, Test of the Twins by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman
The Dragonlance series by Margaret Weis and Laura and Tracy Hickman has acquired a cult reputation among fantasy geeks and role players around the world. Test of the Twins (1986) is the grand finale of an epic trilogy of novels. More
Aberrant story about Indian family
18 Nov 2010 3 Comments
in Book reviews, The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy
This book, The God of Small Things, was published in 1997. It’s written by famous indian women Arundhati Roy. And the book have won booker prize of the 1997.
The God of Small Things tells about life in India. It concentrate on a village named Kerala.The main characters are twins named Estha and Rahel and they have a kooky rapport. This book includes many characters; Pappachi and Mammachi, Chacko, Ammu, Baby Kochamma etc. The plot go forward building a story of Estha and Rahels life.
In my opinion this book is surprisingly good because I didn’t expect much from this book. Some words were abstruse and stroppy. Also it was quite hard to follow the plot because incidents went back in time. But still you can get a general idea what happens and who are who. This book makes me wanna read more books in English. I give this book 4 stars over 5 . The God of Small Things is close to ecxellent!
Revolutionary Irish-American brawler
18 Nov 2010 Leave a comment
in Character analyses, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey
The book One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1962) tells about Randle Patrick McMurphy who has been transferred from prison to mental hospital because he decides to declare himself insane so he would be transferred and so he avoids the work at prison. R.P. McMurphy is 35-year-old and he has never been married. He was charged from gambling, and a statutory rape, but he was never convicted from that sue. And that was the ground why he was arrested and took into custody. R.P. McMurphy is a very colourful person, he laughs a lot and he doesn’t care about rules eg. at the insane asylum where acutes and cronics are sorted into two groups and they aren’t in contact. But R.P. McMurphy doesn’t care he just goes and shakes everyone’s hands, even though some patients are unable to move their arms. He kinda mixes them up. And because of that act Nurse Ratched reminds him that it’s forbidden. And from the early beginning R.P. McMurphy and Nurse Ratched are arguing. And that is going on almost all time of this story, but Nurse Ratched has an ace in her sleeve for McMurphy in the end..
R.P.McMurphy is not really mentally insane, he just plays his role to avoid the work. And because he hasn’t never been diagnosed to have a mental deficiency he is on a probation. That’s how the doctors can tell is he capable to do work or does he have to be locked into four white-walls. R.P. McMurphy plays he cards well and he avoids the work. So now he can enjoy his luxury time at the “full-service hotel”. And because of his personality he questions Nurse Ratched’s authority. Why he does that? Because they have those daily meetings with a doctor so they could talk about their and others problems and maybe solve them. But Nurse Ratched has kind a little shade of sarcasm in her every sentence and with that she manipulates the patients and so she makes herself a “dictator” and because of that R.P. McMurphy feels that he and all the others are not treated equally. So he wants to make a change and starts to raise anarchy at the section. R.P. McMurphy’s goal is to manage to get some of the patients to fight their back, so they wouldn’t be so easily controllable. But it is futile to part-time.
McMurphy has some Irish-background and due that he enjoys a large amount of beverages. And I think his aggressive style comes from that background. McMurphy also tries once to get some of the boys to escape from the town to have a pint o’ beer and watch the game. But the support from other wasn’t so huge. McMurphy was willing to escape to the town because he hadn’t been there for a long time. The patients can only be at the courtyard and play basketball and other games. But that’s not McMurphy’s greatest interest. He’s kinda a traveller so he can’t hold still for a long time. So he has to accept to play blackjack with other mates.
McMurphy makes a tight friendship with Chief Bromden whose mute-deaf half-Indian. He teaches him to play basketball and some other things. I think McMurphy sees at this 6 ft 10 tall giant something more than his appearance. I think McMurphy was glad afterwards that he made friendship with him, I’m not telling more from that subject because you may find it yourself when you read this novel.
I myself find R.P. McMurphy very interesting cause he has the blink in his eye and his always doing something unexpected. So it was nice to read this book because of this colourful character who gave me a couple laughs and brought the sun to my rainy days. R.P. McMurphy is very social person and that was the point what I found attractive.
Ten challenging words from the novel
- inadequacy ~ riittämättömyys
- synthetic opiate ~ synteettinen opiaatti
- scatterbrain ~ törppö
- griddle ~ muurinpohjapannu
- epileptic ~ epileptikko
- schematic ~ kaavamainen
- sophisticated ~ hienostunut
- privilege ~ etuoikeus
- grimacing ~ irvistäen
- strides ~ harppauksin
Randle Patrick McMurphy’s mindmap
Ken Kesey. 1962. One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.
Her journey to where he has already been; future
18 Nov 2010 2 Comments
in Character analyses, The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
Character analysis
I have chosen Clare Abshire from Audrey Niffenegger’s book the Time Traveler’s Wife for my character analysis. I chose her because she’s such a fascinating a character. I wanted to study more about her since she is one of the main characters of the book and she seemed so endearing, and I could really see myself in her situation. The story, from Clare’s point of view, starts when she’s a six-year-old girl playing in the meadow when suddenly Henry, in his fourties, emerges out of no where into her sight. This keeps happening until Clare’s eighteen, and a few years after that they finally meet in real time in Chicago. The whole book depicts the story of their love, that is unaffiliated by time, Henry’s time traveling journeys and Clare’s longing for him while he’s gone.
Clare is the protagonist, since she always waits for her husband and never leaves him though he’s involuntary not reliable. Clare is an artist, which already tells something about her charasterictics; she’s creative. She makes abstract paper art in a studio in their apartment. She’s gentle, caring and loving when it comes to Henry, she really loves him more than anything and would probably do anything for him. When they’re trying to have a baby, and it doesn’t work out instantly, Clare is stubborn and she insists on having a baby eventhough they had already had six miscarriages. From that I also presume that Clare is determined on getting what she wants, and rather used to then get it. She can also tolerate pain well, if she has already had six miscarriages and she still wants to try again. Clare is extremely beautiful with her long, red and curly hair, but that’s not the reason why Henry has such an unbelievable love for her: she’s also captivating when it comes to her personality. My opinion of Clare is that, she’s a righteous and good woman all the way to her core, she has many positive characteristics, but also few negatives, like being frustrated with Henry when he’s time traveling.
I think Clare makes just choises in her life, though her choises are not always smart. For example, when she agrees to marry Henry she bonds her life to his unsteady, erratic lifestyle. It depends on the person whether that’s wise, but for Clare it is, since actually it wouldn’t be wise to fight against something that has already happened, in the future. Sometimes Clare feels like she can’t make her own decisions nor choises, because Henry has told her about their future together. Clare’s motivation to do anything that she does is due to Henry. When she was just a little girl, she already knew that she wanted and would marry him, so every move she made she made to get to him in real time. She always thinks about others and she’s not selfish at all. Clare’s behaviour effects on Henry and vice versa.
Clare is a round character, of course, because the book describes her life in her childhood, adolescence and adulthood and when she gets older she grows physically but also mentally. She changes when she gets married to Henry and especially when she gives birth to her first-born, Alba. That’s when she really grows up to be an adult, a parent, and she becomes more liable. If I were Clare, I wouldn’t have made the exact same choises. For example I wouldn’t have tried to get a baby after six miscarriages! I adore the way she’s loving and caring with Henry and Alba and I’m sort of jealous about Clare’s characteristics. I find Clare a truly astonishing and lively person!
10 most challenging words
enmeshed sotkeutunut
illuminated valaistu
plausible uskottava
bifocals kaksitehot (silmälasit)
withdraw vetäytyä
lather saippuavaahto
chignon nuttura
plow aurata
embalm palsamoida
convexity kuperuus
Henry and Clare.
Audrey Niffenegger. 2004. The Time Traveler’s Wife. London: Vintage.
A boy who wanted to be a catcher in the rye
18 Nov 2010 2 Comments
in Character analyses, The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger
The Catcher in the Rye by J.D Salinger is a story about a boy named Holden Caulfield. Holden gets kicked out of school and travels to New York. Holden describes his experiences while being there and we get to read what’s going on in the boy’s head.
The man who met a woman
18 Nov 2010 1 Comment
in Character analyses, The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy
The character that I chose in The God of Small Things book hasn’t a big role in the book although he is the twins father. I chose Baba because he is mad and angry all the time and I didn’t like him at all. Baba has two kids, both of them are the books main character so it’s weird that the book don’t tell about him so much. Baba has a dad but he died before twins( Rahel and Estha).
Baba is well-built man who wears traditional clothes and old-fasioned spectacles. He looks clerk or so they say in the book. He is small and delightful-looking. ”- easy-going charm and juvenile but totally disarming sense of humour.” This is how the book tells about him.
Baba lived in Calcutta before he met Ammu. He was 25 years old and he had been an assistant manager of a tea estate over six years. When he met Ammu I think that he fell in love for a first sight because he propose Ammu five days later. Soon they moved in Assam, where they bought their own house. And then Ammu was pregnant and she was waiting twins. Rapidly Baba turn out to be a drink addict and sooner or later Ammu saw how he act when he was drunk. Baba was violent and he hit her wife almost every day. I think that Baba was impulsive especially when he had drunk alcohol.
It was bad for Baba that Ammu left him. They divorced because Baba was so ferocious. Some habits that children’s have reminds Ammu what kind of people Baba was ” Ammu hated them blowing spit.bubbles. She said it reminded her of Baba. Their father.” Baba is so obstinate and smug. He was loosing hes job but then he tried to sell his wife to his boss. I pity him, he devastate his life because he was stupid and egotistical as the book says ” he never explained or apologized. He just giggled-”
You can feel his anger in the book. Sometimes his children’s call to mind that their father hit them. But all in all Baba felt sorry about that, because he sober up and stopped drinking(for a time). Baba remarried and got his job back. Later his son Estha move with him in Calcutta. Baba let his son to move back in Ayemenem when Estha is old enough.
Baba is a steamed lunatic but still he care about his children’s though he gave his children’s smoke his cigarettes.. It gives me a feeling that he really didn’t care about them at all.. He has a bit weird habit to indicate his love but I think that is a cultural difference.
Mindmap of Baba
Ten difficult words:
descendants – jälkeläinen
bourgeoisie – porvaristo
dictate – sanella
hatch – varjostaa
jolly – iloinen
swoop – syöksy
grizzled – harmaantunut
prearranged – sovittu
compassionate – armahtavainen
deprivation – riisto
Arundhati Roy. 1997. The God of Small Things. London: Flamingo.
A unique story about youth
18 Nov 2010 1 Comment
in Book reviews, The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger
The Catcher in the Rye is a novel by J.D Salinger written in 1951. At first it was recommended for adults however due to its themes of the youth and the questions of identity, sexuality and growing up, it has aroused more interest in the younger people. The book is now sort of a legend when it comes to modern literature and especially for English speaking countries it is the kind of book that everyone has to have read in some point in their life. The book has also been translated to most languages in the world and therefore is one of the most popular English-language novels of all time.
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
18 Nov 2010 1 Comment
in Book reviews, The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
The Brazilian storyteller Paulo Coelho paints a beautiful picture in our minds with his words in The Alchemist. The book takes the reader to another world and time that brings magic, dreams and meaning to life. Coelho shows how many people put all their efforts towards reaching a dream and spend years in hard work, only to face desperation and give up one day. Give up just a few inches from the breakthrough, just a few moments from seeing the light of their personal victory. This book teaches you to be honest with yourself, kind to others, wise with your own
decisions. It serves as a guiding star to your dream showing that you’re not the only one who feels lost at times and who thinks about giving up.
Coelho gives you an image that, our lives are like a candle in the wind. You have to follow your dreams, but sometimes you have to stop once in a while, and remember that every day is just the first day of another 365-day journey around the sun.
The Alchemist is a simple story of a young Spanish shepherd boy Santiago who one night dreams of a distant treasure in the Egyptian pyramids. And so he’s leaving his home country literally to follow his dream. Along the way he meets many spiritual messengers who come in amazing ways and forms. However, by the end of the novel, he discovers that ” treasure lies where your heart belongs ” and that the treasure was the journey itself.
The storytelling is very simple and easy to read. And the sentences are so open that it amazes you how thought-provoking they are. I greatly enjoyed reading this book, and I think that everyone should read this book at least once.
Challenging words:
murky- pimeä, synkkä
quicksilver- hopea, elohopea
irresponsible- vastuuton, piittaamaton
telepathic- telepaattinen
unconsciousness- tiedottomuus, tietämättömyys
queue- jono, jonottaa
homage- huomionosoitus, ylistys
zenith- huippu
summoned- haastettu oikeuteen
omen- oire, enne
beneath- alle, alitse
It’s time for your medication!
18 Nov 2010 Leave a comment
in Book reviews, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey
One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1962) by Ken Kesey is tremendous and proficient novel. The story takes place at an insane asylum which is managed by Ms. Ratched (aka. the Big Nurse). And R.P. McMurphy (Main character) is the trouble-maker in this story!
The story is told by Chief Bromden who is mute-deaf half-Indian, almost 6 ft 10 tall character. His perspective to the asylum is very neutral, he just wonders what is going on. McMurphy and Bromden become very close friends and McMurphy discovers Bromden’s deepest secret. This close friendship between those two crosswise different background owning characters half-Irish, brawling, fun-loving Randle Patrick McMurphy and mute-deaf half-Indian Chief Bromden is very tenacious. Why it’s so tenacious? That is revealed at the end when Bromden makes a great favor for McMurphy. Sections nurses and staff are treating all the cuckoos from acutes to cronics very cold-blooded. E.g If they find some of the patients annoying then they just give some sedatives to them and “peace” is back! This novel puts marvelously into words the society of that decade.
I recommend this book to enchanting readers whom like to read satire stories. I myself love this book from my heart it was so breathtaking how it described the real truth of madhouse and how they are managed and what methods do they use Eg. lobotomy. I had watched this on big screen at now when I read this book, I realized how books are better sources than movies! This novel has so many tiny details which aren’t captured on the movie. So if you want to discover some truths of the capitalized-corrupted society of this fascinated story then I fervently recommend this book for you all!
Nomadic boy’s adventure
18 Nov 2010 1 Comment
in Book reviews, The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
The Alchemist is a well-liked fantasy book by the Brazilian writer Paulo Coelho. This book has been a huge success all over the world and has been translated into 56 languages.
The protagonist of the alchemist is an Andalucian young nomadic boy named Santiago, who dreams of finding treasure near the Pyramids in Egypt. He meets some people at plaza who know about the treasure and he gets some advice from them. Santiago heads to North Africa and then to Egypt after saving money.
The structure and story of the book is done very creatively, and is very well-made. The early phase of the story is a little bit dull, but when it andvanced it becomes more engrossing. The Alchemist shows that it’s worth reading this sort of fiction. It makes me feel as if I were in a story. That’s real.
Coincidences in space
18 Nov 2010 1 Comment
in Book reviews, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams Tags: The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy is a book with comedy and sci-fi action packed with humorous and strange scenes for instance, there’s a planet that literally makes planets for the universe and protagonists have to listen to the world’s third most annoying thing, which is a poem, sounds exciting, doesn’t it? No doubt about it! The book is based on, believe or not, 20th century. The book gives you a hasty departure right at the start when the Earth is about to be destroyed for a daft reason. There are two protagonists, Arthur Dent and Ford Prefect whom get into an exciting adventure thru space. Their adventure is amusing to follow and you really can’t wait what comes next, the plot twists are just absorbing! The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy is a part one and there are total of five parts of this exciting storyline to be read.
After reading The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy gives something to cogitate on how small or even void we are in the universe. There has been made a movie with the same plot and name, and it can be found on YouTube but I prefer the book more, because it’s more exciting and yet more sophisticated, so you might get lost occasionally but don’t worry, I did too.
It is the book that has the mighty number 42, the meaning of life.
Personal rating: 4-/5
You can buy the book from Suomalainen Kirjakauppa and it costs only 13 euros. It has sold over 15 million copies, so why you shouldn’t buy it too? Or you can just lend it from a library.. AND it has stickers that you can tear off and put somewhere!
Difficult words
- gnaw – jyrsiä
- haemorrhage – verenvuoto
- rectify – korjata
- contemptuous – halventava
- spasm – kouristus
- giddily – huimaava
- gape – ammottaa
- dichotomy – kahtiajako
- perish – tuhoutua
- peculiar – kummallinen
Click here to see my blog of one of the side characters from this book, it’s a robot!
Lestat
18 Nov 2010 1 Comment
in Character analyses, Interview With the Vampire by Anne Rice
Character analyse
The book Interview With the Vampire is about Louis’ and Lestat’s lives as vampires. The protagonists are Louis and Lestat. Louis is a depressed young man who don’t care if he is dead or alive, since he has lost his brother and blames himself about it. That’s when Lestat steps into the story and turns Louis to a vampire and that’s when their long partnership begins.
The other protagonist Lestat is a charismatic and selfish vampire who doesn’t care about others feelings or opinions. He does whatever he wants and asks no-one for permission on his actions. He is gallant and no-one can resist him, until people realise that they are going to die, because Lestat is going to drink their blood. He don’t care who he kills. He has been a vampire for a long time and that’s why he is got used to kill people to feed himself. I think that Lestat is humorous in a little twisted way and kind of amusing. He is selfish, but he does listen to Louis’ problems and issues, still he doesn’t always understand Louis’ perspectives and he often laughs and mocks Louis’ manners. For example Lestat doesn’t understand the fact that Louis eats from rats in the beginning, because he doesn’t want to kill people. Lestat is a survivor, because after all nasty things that he experiences, since his little vampire girl Claudia and later his partner Louis tries to kill him, he still manages to stay alive and get on with his live. Lestat is from the beginning of the book to the end himself. His personality doesn’t change a bit in the book, which I liked. Of course he had some hard times which made him a bit weak, but only for temporary.
10 Challenging words
gnash= kiristellä
tremor=tärinä/ värähtely
mischievous= vahingollinen/tuhma
escapade= hurjastelu
puffed= hengästynyt
accumulating= kasaantuva
obliterated= hävitetty
tenacious= peräänantamaton
grin= irvistellä
linger= hidastella
Trailer of the movie
Nobody Owens
18 Nov 2010 Leave a comment
in Character analyses, The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
10 challenging words
1. mausoleum = mausoleumi
2.accumulation = kasaantuma, karttuminen
3. suspiciously = epäluuloisesti
4. regretfully = valitettavasti
5. unquestionably = kieltämättä, ehdottomasti
6. irrelevancies = epäolennaisuuksia
7. enormous = jättiläiskokoinen
8. dismal = ankea, kolkko
9. instruction = ohje, käsky
10. generosity = anteliaisuus, jalomielisyys
Character analyses
Nobody Owens is the main character in this story. Nobody Owens, known to his friends as Bob, is perfectly normal boy. Nobody Owens is a typical boy except for the fact that he calls a graveyard his home. His family was murdered when he was a toddler and Nobody only saves himself from a similar fate by being innately curious.
The overall story of Nobody Owens is captivating and endearing. Nobody is an easy to love character and at the end of the book, i almost wish i could follow the boy to see where he might end up.
I really like what he said at the end ” I want to see life. I want to hold it in my hands. Iwant to leave a footprint on the sand of desert island. I want to play football with people. I want everything.” I think the world has a lot of people just want same like him and I am one of them.
mind map
http://www.mindmeister.com/maps/show/68484674
Bibiliography
Gaiman, Neil. 2008. The Graveyard Book. London
The Graveyard Book Trailer Narrated by Neil Gaiman
Kate
18 Nov 2010 1 Comment
in Character analyses, My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult
http://www.mindmeister.com/68491409/kate She was born only because her parents wanted to save her sister's life. Kate was dying from leukemia and Anna was expected to donate a kidney to her. Kate suffers from a rare form of leukaemia. Difficult words: Reeling = Kelaaminen Tenacity = Sitkeys Belligerent = Sotaisa Shrug = Olankohautus Peripheral = Toisarvoinen Wedged = Juuttunut Boulder = Siirtolohkare Approximation = Lähentämisestä Rhododendrons = ----- Parochial = Seurakunnan
Sonuvabitch, that killed me!
18 Nov 2010 1 Comment
in Book reviews, The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger
The Catcher in the Rye is a story about sixteen-year-old Holden, who for some reason, gets expelled from his school. Again. When I first looked at the book, I was like “goddam, another book to read by force. These covers look so lame, can’t be a good book.” But no no no no, I was so wrooong. This book hit the right spot, it was so good.
The story was very interesting, it felt so realistic. Maybe because there were places like New York and the main character was about same age as I so it was easy to adopt the view, easy to imagine what happend in the world of Holden Caulfield. While reading, it felt like the book could be a piece of someone’s life story.
It’s been a while when I have been so into a book. Even had a few laughs.
Salinger uses very colourful slang and witty dialogue which makes the novel especially for young people.
Must read. Strongly recommended.
J.D Salinger. 1958. The Catcher in the Rye. London: Penguin Books.
Cya phonies!
18 Nov 2010 1 Comment
in Character analyses, The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger
Holden Caulfield, 16, our protagonist in the book The Catcher in the Rye, goes Pencey prep, or used to. He also used to go three other schools. For the fourth time he gets expelled from school and is told to leave soon. Holden decides it’s better head for home, but before that, he goes to New York. There he spends three days and experiences a lot of stuff and describes all his thoughts and feelings.
Holden is a very strong person. He has his own, mostly way or another radical opinions which usually ends up to solutions that how phony everything and everyone is. It seems that he doesn’t care much what he says to others and because being such a bad-mouth, he often gets in trouble and even few times beaten up. He’s very good with words, you can see him saying ”phony” and ”that kills me” a lot and of course swearing swearing swearing, that verbose side of him is very admirable… Even though he seems such a badass, he has some sensitive and yet positive feelings, especially when talking about his little sister Pheobe. He seems to have a lot of friends though they don’t show up very often and of course most of them are ”phony.”
All in all Holden Caulfield is very mature for his age and seems like he could have been born to some kind of ghetto because he’s such a badass.
Few words:
Witty = Näsäviisas
Anxious = Jännittynyt, halukas, malttamaton
Braids = Letittää
Chisel = Ryöstää
Spendthrift = Tuhlari
Incognito = tuntematon
Matinee = Päivänäytös
Phony = Teeskentelijä
Inferiority complex = Alemmuuskompleksi
Digression = Syrjähyppy
My Sister’s Keeper
17 Nov 2010 1 Comment
in Book reviews, My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult
My Sister’s Keeper is a novel written by Jodi Picoult. It’s a story of 13-year-old Anna who’s life is very extraordinary. She was born only because her parents wanted to save her sister’s life. Her sister Kate was dying from leukaemia and Anna was expected to donate a kidney to Kate. Anna sues her parents for medical emancipation because she and her sister wanted to stop treatments.
The main characters of the novel are Anna, her sister Kate, brother Jesse, her mother Sara, her father Brian, lawyer Campbell and his girlfriend Julia Romano. The story is told by all this persons point of view so the narrator changes many times. This makes the novel very interesting. There are lots of contradictions at the novel; between people’s interests, opinions and hopes. Also the narrators point of views differ from each other and that makes the story impressive and many-sided.
Anna’s and Kate’s life is very dramatic. Kate suffers from leukemia and Anna was expected to save her life. The purpose of Anna’s life is to be a donator, first she has to donate bone marrow and later she expected to donate a kidney. The girls are not sure if they want to do it and they hired a lawyer. The end of the novel is very shocking. Anna dies in a car accident and finally Kate gets her kidney and survives
The book was quite good, it was exciting and touching. It handles ethic problems like “what is the meaning of life” and “is it right to use other people for own purposes”. I recommend the book for everybody who likes reading books.
Wicked little girl Claudia
17 Nov 2010 1 Comment
in Character analyses, Interview With the Vampire by Anne Rice
Lestat transforms Claudia to a vampire when she is little girl. First Claudia respects him but little by little she starts hating him and wants to murder Lestat. Claudia is nascent girl but she is caged in little girls body and she grows only mentally. She is also very determined because she decides herself to kill Lestat and she almost succeed in it. She uses her innocence to kill people which makes she naughty.
Anne Rice, brilliant writer
17 Nov 2010 Leave a comment
in Book reviews, Interview With the Vampire by Anne Rice
Have you ever wondered where writers get their ideas? Will they come from the imagination, dreams, movies, nature, or buy from somewhere else. I think this book was so absorbing that I didn’t even think those issues.
Anne Rice wrote so well about vampires in the book Interview with the Vampire that I felt like I would have been present in the story. This book was so magnificent and fascinating because there was a lots of action.
Little genius
17 Nov 2010 1 Comment
in Character analyses, Matilda by Roald Dahl
Roald Dahl´s in the year 1988 published book Matilda tells a story about a little four-year-old genius girl, who likes to read books and is the best of her school glass. Her parents don´t care about her and they think that Matilda is nuisance little liar, who should watch more TV. Book is full of black humor and every character have their own personality and own task in the book.
Although the book is quite unrealized, I have to think how Matilda can be so talented without that nobody never teach her ? Or can Matilda´just be natural talented ? Matilda is just a four-year-old and she had read more books than many adults have ever read . She is also mathematically talented and she can do extraordinary tricks with her eyes. I could say that she is every kind of way very smart. She knows what is wrong and what is right. She is very different than her parents and brother. She appreciates things than they. Matilda’s mom says that it´s important to look good and get a rich man than study hard and read books. Matildas´s father shell stolen cars and cheat customers. And her brother wants to be like his father. If I have that kind of family, I think that I would love to make up lot and I wouldn´t care anything but myself. But Matilda is not that kind of person. She walks her own way and looks down on her parents.
Matilda grows up during the story. She learns to understand that she doesn´t need to accept those things what her parents do. She find people who appreciate her skills and who realize that she is a little genius.
Roald Dahl. 1988. Matilda. London: Penguin Books Ltd
Ten words:
Brandish = Heiluttaa Clutching =Kytkentä Grasshopper = Heinäsirkka Refuse = Kieltää Mooch = Vetelehtiä Inherited = Peritty Tremendous=Erikoinen Sqruit = Ruisku Root= Juuri, alku Comparatively=Verrattain
Reading and laughing
17 Nov 2010 1 Comment
in Book reviews, Matilda by Roald Dahl
Roald Dahl´s book Matilda tells about a little genius girl, whose parents doesn´t care her skills. The book has published in year 1988. Matilda likes to read, and she is very quick to learn it without teaching. I don´t like her parents because they try to prevent Matilda to read. if somebody wants to do something, why she can´t do that? I don´t understand.. But Matilda doesn´t care, because reading and learning is her passion. I love Matilda because she have own opinions and she is a little bit rebel.
The book is very funny and it’s full of humor. Reading is quite easy, because there is easy words and it’s funny to read that book. When you read the book, you can’t be without laughing. If you feel sad, take Matilda and start to read! It makes you feeling better, I can promise! I recommend the book for everybody, especially for childish people.
How long it takes you have read the book? Not long, because the book is not very long and when you start reading, you can’t stop, without some very important reason.
Little genius in the unfair world
17 Nov 2010 1 Comment
in Book reviews, Matilda by Roald Dahl
I read Matilda by Roald Dahl. It has been published in the year 1988. The book tells story about a little four-year-old girl named Matilda. Matilda is extraordinary talented. She has read all the children´s book in the library and also many adult´s books. She is also mathematically very talented . Matilda has a mother, father and brother. They have nice house and Matilda´s father has own car business . It looks like everything is fine. But the parents are very selfish and they don´t care about Matilda. They think that Matilda is nuisance little liar , who must watch more TV. Book is very familiar Roald Dahl. It´s full of black humour and everything is upside down.
Book was so fun . I enjoyed to read it. And there is no moment that I could be without laughing. Tought book is children´s book I think it fits both, adults and children. Book tells abnormal parent´s relation with their child. I think that any normal parents couldn´t leave their child with her teacher and move their self to an another country. the book is very joking it´s in the same time very mindful. Today many parents concentrate on their career and children come next. In the book father concentrates to sell stolen cars and mother attend her looks. Book tells good how materialistic world is nowadays.
Even if the book´s mission is amuse people. It´s getting to think how unfair world is sometimes. All in all the book could scare its reader for hilarity. I absolutely recommend the book for everybody.
Roald Dahl. 1988. Matilda. London: penguin books
Little girl without caring
17 Nov 2010 2 Comments
in Character analyses, Matilda by Roald Dahl
I have read Roald Dahl´s book Matilda, which was published in 1988. The book tells about five years old girl, who is genius. Reader can see Madilda´s wisdom when Matilda starts to read age of three newspapers and age of four she could read fast and well.
Matilda´s parents don´t care about doughter´s skills. They don´t have any books at home, only one cooking book. Parents don´t read anything, only watch TV. They don´t encourage to read, they try to get Matilda stop reading, but Matilda is determined and continue reading. When she is at home alone, she goes to the library and read books there. Matilda doesn´t know that she can borrow books, and bring it back, when she has read the book. Matilda is very quick to learn everything, but parents doesn´t realize that at all. They want Matilda would be sillier, but Matilda just makes fun of them and cheat her parents. I like Matilda, because she is very innocent, or she can act that at least. Matilda knows, her parents doesn´t realizthat she is genius but Matilda doesn´t care, so she continue to learn new things. She doesn´t care what others says. I like that attitude! Still, Matilda have some people who realize her skills and encourage her to continue. Matilda reads alot, and I think she is a read-worm! I respect that, because I am not a read-worm, never been…
Some words:
breech= lukko
rugged=rosoinen
abilities=taidot
jolly= iloinen
the telly=televisio,töllö
limerick=limerikki
dainty=siro
astonishing=hämmästyttävä
excitement=kiihtymys
squirm=kiemurrella
Matilda mindmap
Desert flower
16 Nov 2010 5 Comments
in Book reviews, Character analyses, Desert Flower by Waris Dirie
“While my father and the rest of the family were still sleeping, my mother woke me and said, “Go now.” I looked around for something to grab, something to take, but there was nothing, no bottle of water, no jar of milk, no basket of food. So, barefoot, and wearing only a scarf draped around me, I ran off into the black desert night.”
About a book :Desert flower is the story of Waris Dirie. She survived of the dangerous Somalian desert, she got to London . While she was working at MC Donalds, she was found by a fashion photographer and she became one of the world´s supermodels.
I like this book alot especially because it is a true strory wich happened quiet recently.Its hard to imagine what some child have to go through.This book has truly inspired me.
About a character : Waris means desert flower .Waris growed up in a nomad family and was a hardworking girl.Waris lives happily with her family until she was around five years old. When she went through the practice of female circumcision, it changed her life. At 14, her father introduces her to an old man – her future husband. Waris decides to run away, and so beings her incredible journey.
In my personal opinion, Waris has such a bold personality ,because she wants to make a better future for herself. It is a source of inspiration for young women.
Challenging words
circumsision = ympärileikkaus
tetanus = jäykkäkouristus
priority = tärkeys
grin = virnistää
torture = kidutus
procedure = menetelmä
evocative = mielikuvia herättävä
frown =rypistää otsaansa
midst = keskellä
A Girl Who Wanted To Be Heard
16 Nov 2010 1 Comment
in Character analyses, Matilda by Roald Dahl
The book Matilda by Roald Dahl tells about young but very ambitious girl. Matilda is only five years old but read massive numbers of books and many of those were classics like; Dickens, Kipling and Hemingway.
I think that Matilda is extreme intelligent little girl, but it is a shame that her parents don’t know how to appreciate her talents. This is, in my opinion, very pity because Matilda is actually a prodigy, a genius. But behind all of this is just a sensitive little girl who I think, wanted to be approved by her parents. Matilda’s parents treat her like a crap which dare her to do all kinds of small pranks, like glue a hat onto her father’s head.
Matilda’s parents think that the girl is a menace but i think that she just wanted to be heard and noticed.
Graveyard
15 Nov 2010 Leave a comment
in Book reviews, The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
The book begins when a mysterious character “Jack” kills family. he reaches the nursery and find out that family’s two-year-old son is missing. Jack starts hunting the boy.
The story opens with death and book is dark in tone, only because it happens to be situated in a graveyard that happens to be populated by unnatural creatures. The graveyard book is a pretty good book, because the atmosphere has remained during the entire book. The book is included at the beginning of fear, in the middle of love and at the end of a little bit sadness.
I think everyone can read it because it is really gook book. it is also famous in the world
Lady Detective
15 Nov 2010 1 Comment
in Book reviews, The No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith
The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith tells about how Mma. Ramotswe opens her own detective agency, becoming the first lady detective in Botswana. Book tells about Precious Ramotswe’s life and descripes how Mma.Ramotswe solves problems.
First the book was little bit platitudinous. I thought Im never going to read this kind of books, but after a few pages I have read it. It was quite thought-provoking and I never thought it would tell in such detail how different life in Africa. How life can be cruel sometimes and how lucky you can get. In this book it tells that cinderella stories are possible in life when you aren’t waiting the luck to come over. I suggest it to everyone who enjoys reading and want a book with a mysteris.
An Honest Giant
15 Nov 2010 1 Comment
in Character analyses, The BFG by Roald Dahl
The BFG is the name of the main character but it is an abbreviation from Big Friendly Giant. His name tells a lot about him, because he is very friendly and enourmosly big -well of course when we are talking about a giant! The BFG lives in Giantland with other giants. He is separated from the group since he is different and he doesn’t like the others because they bully him.
The BFG is also very kind, honest and sweet person. You can notice that simply because The BFG doesn’t eat people, even if it’s kind of natural for them, and even when all the other giants do eat humans. The BFG thinks that it’s disgusting and wrong to hurt others. The BFG doesn’t know how to cook so he has to eat a terrible snozzcumber vegetable. When Sophie (a little girl who is giant’s best friend) asks The BFG why doesn’t he eat for example carrots or other good vegetables, The BFG answers that he doesn’t know how to grow them, and he could not steal those from innocent people, because it’s wrong.
The sweetest thing about The BFG is that he can’t speak proper english. Typical sentences from him are for example “I is tired” or ” Is I right or left?” meaning to ask if he is right or wrong.
The Giant And The Girl Saving The World
15 Nov 2010 1 Comment
in Book reviews, The BFG by Roald Dahl
I read Roald Dahl’s book The BFG. It’s a story about Sophie who is 8 years old, an orphan girl who ends up being friends with this Big Friendly Giant.
The story begins when sophie lays on her bed at night and she suddenly feels like going to the window to look at the street. And when she looks on the street, she notices this very big giant. Then The BFG kidnaps Sophie, and she is scared that the giant is gonna eat her, but they end up being best friends. If it would have been any other giant, sophie would have been dead in a second, but The BFG is different.
Together Sophie and The BFG start to think how to stop the other giants from eating human. The BFG tells Sophie how he mixes up dreams to blow through a trumpet into the rooms of sleeping children. They invent to use the dream mixing to get the Queen of England to realize the problem with the giants and help the children who are in trouble.
The BGF is a very good book. Even if it’s meant specially for kids, I dont find it boring at all. It is kind of hard to judge the book because it’s a children’s book and I cant find anything bad to say about it. I think it is lovely, hilarious and interesting to read! When you read this book, it just makes you smile.
True Friendship
15 Nov 2010 3 Comments
in Book reviews, Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
John Steinbeck’s Of mice and men (1937) tells a story of George Milton and Lennie Small, two migrant ranch workers during The Great Depression in California. The story of the two buddies is adverse and invigorating at the same time.
It’s amazing to see how much Lennie and George care about each other. Even when sometimes George gets mad at Lennie, deep down he cares for him. The story is indeed about true friendship. Even the tragic ending is about saving one’s friend from a bigger affliction.
The book is far cry from what I usually read, but in a stupendous way. The language is oldish and the two buddies use quite a lot of slang. That makes the reading more enjoyable, because I personally prefer free-spirited use of language.
After reading the book I was satisfied with how the story was told and how the characters were portrayed. The style was quite unique in terms of the plot. It didn’t follow the oh-so-usual line. All in all, I recommend this book to everyone interested in reading something rather disparate.
Bibliography:
Steinbeck, John. 1937. Of Mice And Men. New York: Covici Friede Inc.
Finding your own path
14 Nov 2010 1 Comment
in Book reviews, Brida by Paulo Coelho
Brida by Paolo Coelho is fascinating story about life, magic but the most of all it’s a story about love. Brida is a charming young woman who is tremendously willing to quest her way to knowledge. The story takes Brida to a wise, mysterious teacher who asks her the decisive question: “Would you give up everything you had learned until then, in order to stay with the love of your life?” Would you?
Coelho writes believable and makes the readers identify with the strong feelings he describes in a book. The book is a sensitive portrait about finding your own path in this world, overcoming obstacles and being honest with yourself. This story is compelling and it can offer you a magical voyage of self-examination.
Bibliography:
Brida by Paulo Coelho, 1990
Strange mum
13 Nov 2010 1 Comment
in Character analyses, My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult
Short Plot:
The concept of a terminal illness always brings a lot of pain, especially when the sick children who have not managed to see anything in this life. It gives a lot of pain to their relatives, who feel powerless, helpless. In books:”My sister´s keeper”, Kate’s mother did everything that she could to save his sick daughter. She gave birth to another child in order to reduce the suffering of Kate and save her, using her younger daughter as a donor. Later, a younger girl to grow and refuses to sacrifice himself for his sister. Subject to the right of the minor daughter against their own parents.
Character analysis (Ms Fitzegerald):
From all character, I didn´t understood Anna´s and Kate´s mum ms Fitzgerald. Of course I can understand mother loves but I can´t understand how she can kill her own child in favor of another own child.?! I think if you have for example two child you must love them both equally.
All of ms Fitzgerald action, I has shock when she in tribunal spoke only about what is better for Kate, and she doesn´t think that Anna is too her daughter.
I think that she is perfect mum for Kate. He was ready to do anything that Kate would be happy. Once, when Kate didn´t want to go out on the ground because she was bald, and all staring at her, and she thought that she isn´t pretty. Her mother went to the bathroom and cut herself bald to be the same as Kate. She left her job in order to be more with Kate.
But unfortunately, with Anna, she was different. Of course she is not bothered her, bought her a variety of goods and in no way devalued her and I am sure that he loved her own way, but Katie was clearly more important to her. And she was willing to give up in order to cover Anna was alive.
Mind map:
Bibliography:
Jodi, Picoult. 2004. My sister´s keeper. Great Britain: Hodder and Stoughton Ltd.
10 challenging words
- Cornerstone=kulmakivi
- Vacuum = tyhjiö
- Placenta =istukka
- iron lung = rauta keuhko
- Raised =esille
- Elbows = Kyynärpäät
- Fist -=nyrkki
- Upward = nouseva
- Fluff =hahtuva
- Grocery =Ruokakauppa
My Sister’s Keeper – Movie Trailer – Jodi Picoult novel
Sister love
13 Nov 2010 1 Comment
in Book reviews, My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult
I think in Jodi Picoult´s book my sister´s keeper, clearly present in sister loves. Unfortunately not at all families have such things love. That one sister able to give own body parts in favor of sister. And another sister agree to die that sister´s body parts remain. Rarely have I read book where the events might be invented but still, in my head I understand that some people have similar life story. And, most importantly, that everything that happens can happen to anyone.
First, I’ve seen the movie, it was a year ago, in the cinema and I was sure that the book is almost identical. But it was not at all and I think the book is somewhat emotionally … I recommend the book warmly to all regardless of gender. I am sure that the book evokes emotions from everyone. And I’m sure that it does not leave anyone in incurious. Reading the book I was able to characters known to the feelings and My Sister’s Keeper book get me cry. I think it’s worth reading the book!
Jodi, Picoult. 2004. My sister´s keeper. Great Britain: Hodder and Stoughton Ltd.
Funny story about teenagers
13 Nov 2010 1 Comment
in Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging: Confessions of Georgia Nicolson by Louise Rennison, Book reviews
The book was delicious and there was lots of humour. The story tells about teenage girl Georgia Nicholson’s, life and her crushes. Georgia lives in Uk and she is madly in love with a boy named Robbie but she can’t have him because he already has a girlfriend Lindsay, Georgia’s best friend is also in love with Robbie’s brother Tom.
Reading the book, I was positively surprised, because I didn’t expect it to be such a fanny book, I think that it was one of the funniest books that I have read. I am used to reading tragedy where there are always dramatic twists and turns so this is a change for me.
The best thing about the book was that you can so easily identify with Georgia’s youth, When I was in Senior hight-school I remember very well how girls were always talking about boys or what kind kiss would be your first kiss or older boys in upper classes were always what we were dreaming of and then had sleepover where we talked about the most handsome boy in school and played the game truth or dare.
I think that the author did very good job, at making such a credible image of youth now a days. I recommend this book for to all ages who wants to remember their own youth and it really is very funny.
Louise Rennison. 1999. Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging. UK: Piccadilly Press LTD.
Great book with African culture
12 Nov 2010 1 Comment
in Book reviews, The No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith
The No.1 Ladies’ Detective Agency is a novel by British writer Alexander McCall Smith. The novel has received two Booker Judge’s Special Recommendations and various book criticisers have given positive feedback about the book. It was also produced as a TV series in 2008. More
Eternal life as a vampire
12 Nov 2010 1 Comment
in Book reviews, Interview With the Vampire by Anne Rice
I read the book Interview With the Vampire, written by Anne Rice. Interview With the Vampire is a very well-known book and it was written in 1976. After eighteen years a movie based on the book came out starring Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt and Kirsten Dunst. So the book and the movie have been a great success.
The protagonist of the book is Louis who becomes a vampire as a twenty-five-year-old man in 1791 when the other protagonist Lestat turns him to a vampire and ends Louis’ life as a human. The book is about Louis’ and Lestat’s lives as vampires through their sad and happy moments. In the book Louis is more like a sad and unhappy person and Lestat is clearly the opposite of Louis.
The book of 346 pages includes only five parts and quite long chapters. The language was English and quite understandable considering how old the text was. Still in the book there were quite many words I didn’t recognise. The text was also really small, which disturbed me often.
I think that the book Interview With the Vampire was interesting and kind of good because it wasn’t, in my opinion, one of those cliché 21th centurys vampire stories. Also I liked the characters, specially Lestat. The book was very long and sometimes really long-winded, but still readable in my opinion. Because of the long-winded plot and the fact that I have never read such a long book, I sometimes had problems staying interested while reading.
Rice, Anne O’Brien. 1976. Interview With the Vampire. New York: Ballantine Books.
Ladies’ Detective Agency in Botswana
12 Nov 2010 2 Comments
in Book reviews, The No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith
My first thought about the book No.1 Ladies’ Detective Agency (1998) was kind of biassed that it would be more for women’s book than men’s. Finally after reading the book I realized that anyone can read it. It was nothing like just for women’s, it was a normal detective story accept the main character wasn’t a man detective as usual we have used to.
The No.1 Ladies’ detective agency is written by Alexander McCall Smith. It was published for the very first time in Great Britain by Polygon in 1998. The story is about Mma Ramotswe’s life in Botswana, Africa. The story begins with her father’s passing away and with leaving a huge fortune for her daughter Mma Ramotswe. Ramotswe used the huge fortune to run her own business by forming The No.1 Ladies’ Detective Agency.
I enjoyed reading the book, because the story was great and it was different kind of detective book. It was also very easy to read so after all I recommend this book for everyone who likes detective stories.
Heroes and villains 