Twilight (VI)

If I had the option of turning into a vampire, would I?

As mentioned in Twilight, vampires have many benefits to being undead. While the journey of turning into one is beyond painful, actually being a vampire comes with super speed, super strength, tirelessness, enhanced senses, and enriched beauty. You of course develop an appetite for human flesh, but that is an instinct that would seems as natural as breathing.

Although Bella wishes to become a vampire for the sole purpose of living forever in Edward's strong embrace, I would never consider such an offer. The pain doesn't scare me. The diet doesn't sicken me. And the perks don't phase me. Timeless beauty is, of course, what every woman secretly hopes for, but wrinkles are part of the human formula. I would never want to be a vampire for the main fear of loosing my passion for life. Knowing that you will never die (unless shredded to bits by another vampire) would dull all the excitements of life. All the little things worth living for, would become nonchalant.

For example, no longer would I be elated at the sight of a melted piece of dark chocolate on a toasted graham cracker. No longer would I squeal at the smell of fresh-popped popcorn on a Friday movie night with my sisters (they would all be dead). No longer would I weep for all the pain and suffering, I would become immune after so many years. No longer would I keep smiling for days after one really good date with a boy I liked. All the emotions that make life's roller coaster so exciting and worth living, would be numbed. My physical senses would reach an all-time high, compensating for a hardened heart. Not for all the beauty or all the strength in all the world would I give up my passion for life's small pleasures.

Twilight (V)

Did the book come to a satisfactory closure for you? Why/not?

The ending of Twilight came to a very satisfactory closing in a predictable, romantic novel sort of way. And at the same time, no conclusion was ever reached. How frustrating is that!!!

(P.S.- do not read further if you don't want the ending spoiled.)

So, of course the bad guy (or vampire) was defeated. Murdered, really. Edward's family took care to remove any traces that James ever existed. During all the heroic stuff, though, Bella did get bitten. Typical of the damsel in distress. The theory goes that if you get bitten by a vampire and not killed, then you are infected with the poison, which will turn you into a vampire. The only way to prevent that is to have the poison removed by having a vampire suck it out, without killing you. Ironic, huh? The very thing that poisons you is the one thing that can save you.

So, there is Bella, lying on the floor, slowly turning into a vampire. Now, Edward must make a choice. Let Bella experience this excruciatingly painful transformation into a vampire so that she may live with him forever, or suck the venom out and risk potentially killing her. Edward sucks. Fortunately, he did not kill her (go figure!). After Edward saves Bella, the rest of the book basically discusses Bella's wish to be turned into a vampire verses Edward's refusal to make her one of the undead.

The end of the book leaves the reader knowing that one day Bella will get her wish, but also leaves room for a potential sequel, which I guess would have been suspenseful if I had read Twilight when it first came out. Like I mentioned before, the relationship between Edward and Bella seems way too surreal, no thanks to them telling each other how much they love one another at least three times a page for the last forty pages!!!!!!!! However, considering the type of book Twilight is and the audience it is meant for, the conclusion would satisfy many teenage girls. Maybe I'm too rational, I don't know. But I will admit that the end was much more captivating than the rest of the book. The bad guy had a very interesting plan to lure Bella out of hiding. Overall, not a bad book.

Twilight (IV)

What do you think is the defining moment for the main character/person in you book? Why?

There are several scenes in Twilight that alter the following events. However, one scene alone completely transformed Bella and Edward's relationship, and everybody else's along with it. The night Bella travels to Port Angeles with her two friends changes everything. She goes off on her own in the creepy little town (stupid girl!), wanders off way too far, and ends up getting into trouble with some (I don't even know how to properly describe them) men. They begin by following her. Then, they split up and circle around her in an attempt to trap her. And I'm thinking that mugging was NOT on their mind. Right as they were about to pounce, Edward drives up -almost running the men over-, opens the door, and Bella hops in. What a rescue! And talk about perfect timing.

They go out to dinner, which is the first time their ever alone together. This, of course, gives them the chance to talk. That night Bella finds out about Edward being a vampire and all his other secrets. This scene determines the rest of the book. Once Bella made her decision to continue seeing Edward despite what he is, changes their relationship. The whole rest of the book occurs because of what happened that night in Port Angeles. After that night, they are practically inseparable.

Twilight (III)

Does the author seem to have a friendly, unfriendly, or some other type of relationship with the content of the book? Why do you think so?

At first glance, the reader would assume that Stephenie Meyer has a friendly attitude towards vampires. The majority of the non-human characters are good people, who are trying to live a normal life. They are kind to Bella and never cause any trouble. However, on deeper inspection, I think the author's relationship with vampires is much more complicated.

Meyer is intrigued by the possibility of the existence of vampires (otherwise she wouldn't have written this book series) but is wary of their presence. Many times throughout the book she acknowledges the "facts" that they hold the potential to rip Bella to shreds in an instant. They thirst for human blood, and it is only through their moral conscience that they are able to resist the smell. Such limitations on their natural instincts can only be held back for so long. The Cullen's family could tear the town of Forks apart. With this knowledge, Meyers keeps her distance but still reveres the possibility of their strength.

At the same time, Meyers (through Bella's character) reveals that she is not necessarily fearful of vampires' thirst for humans. Rather, she accepts it. Much like a pack of wild animals, James and his group are called "hunters". They travel in small hunting packs and feast upon their kills. This way of life is natural. They can't help it, just like a lion can't help hunting and eating a baby lamb. There's no point in trying to condemn their species because they eat other animals. Meyers very rational puts up with vampires' thirst for human blood without judgement because that is their nature. You cannot change who you are.

Twilight (II)

Last semester in Psychology, we held a unit on Social Psychology, which is the study of interactions between humans. One thing we talked about was the natural instinct to judge people's mental abilities based off of their physical aspects. Similarly, Bella states about the Cullen family, "I couldn't imagine any door that wouldn't be opened by that degree of beauty" (32). As wrong as I think this sounds, it is so true. People are judged based on looks. And it's not just their personality or morality that is questioned but also their mental depth.

I can't tell how many times I've had adults that I don't really know say how intelligent I must be based off of a 30 second conversation. They don't know me. All they see is a semi put together young lady who maintains eye-contact and smiles politely. That's all I give them to work with, and yet I've already been judged and classified.

Back in the fall, I went to several scholarship competitions. The one thing I learned (besides the fact that I SUCK at interviewing!) was that the better dressed, nicer looking students had a greater chance of winning the scholarship money. Every person in that room got there based on grades, class rank, and SAT scores. Everyone was smart, and everyone deserved the money. However, as soon as you walked in the room to meet people for the first time, you automatically dismissed people as "no way will they get it" based on their attire.

Unfortunately, this unfair practice remains quite common in everyday situations. The bad thing is that some people since they look nice, give the impression of being smarter, which can make their job/workload easier. How curious it is that our brains automatically connect physical appearance with brain function!

Twilight

By Stephenie Meyer
2005

Twilight has been the rave for teens and tweens for the last year or so. Since the release of the movie version, even more popularity has built up over the past few months. My friend, who had read the first book, and I went to see the movie (I mainly went for the viewing of the lead character Edward). Afterwards, she mentioned that the movie had differed quite a bit and had cut out many details and events. Curiosity got the best of me, so I decided to read the book.

First off, I would like to ridicule those girls' cynicism for saying that the movie was way worse because of the lack of detail. That book is freakin' long!!! There is no way a movie could have followed the book exactly. The movie would have been five hours long. The Sound of Music movie was three hours while the book was only about 200 pages. Now take a 500 page book and make the movie follow it word-for-word. I'm personally glad they cut the movie short. They explained enough for the audience to understand.

Second, I'm typically an optimistic person, always looking for the good and pure in things. However, the romance between Bella and Edward in the book is completely unrealistic!!! He tells her that he loves her on their second date. Who does that (and actually means it, anyways)??? They are drawn to each other, which I completely get. But, as the rate their going, it's got to be lust. Tons of readers were swooning over Edward and his relationship with Bella. But I say there's no way. Fortunately, the movie reflected modern reality much more precisely than the book did. Thank goodness too, otherwise I might have gagged. Overall, though, the book was every bit as intriguing as the movie.

Chicken Soup for the Unsinkable Soul (VI)

Stressed is just desserts spelled backwards.

-Brain Luke Seaward

I first saw this saying at a little boutique store carved into a piece of wood meant to hang on a wall. Seeing it again in this Chicken Soup book still gave me the same feeling of almost instantaneous de-stressing. I'm not exactly sure why but thinking about stressors as nothing more than yummy desserts makes stress appear less vile and more friendly. Stress, of course, surrounds our lives daily and is necessary for our survival, but in today's times stress overwhelms the vase majority of the population. In a world that moves faster and faster each day, the number of stressors present only multiplies.

An important cure to stress is numbing some of those stressors by creating happiness elsewhere. For example, desserts always help to calm you down and provide a short time away from the rush of things. Actually, I recently read an article that talked about one way of relieving stress is to give/receive a hug or kiss everyday from someone. Even if you're just hugging your dog. Hugs and kisses are proven stress-relievers just like chocolate.

This school year in particular has been extremely stressful. With the Senior Project, college aps, scholarship competitions, AP classes, family and friends, and lacrosse, finding time for myself has become a rare thing indeed. Then there's deciding on my future while trying to maintain my present life. Wow! Keeping up with everything would be difficult for even the most organized person, let alone a seventeen-year-old girl. However, I find that leaving out a little time each day to de-stress always helps keep me sane. Anything from eating a piece of chocolate to hugging a friend to taking a leisurely bath helps tone down the intensity of life's stressors. By the end of the day, I have accomplished a few tasks and added on about twenty. But no matter. After all, "stressed is just desserts spelled backwards."

Chicken Soup for the Unsinkable Soul (V)

My company mascot is the bumblebee.
Because of its tiny wings and heavy body,
aerodynamically the bumblebee shouldn't be
able to fly. But the bumblebee doesn't know
that, so it flies anyway.

-Mary Kay Ash

The first time I read this poem, I laughed and dismissed it as just comical. Bees shouldn't be able to fly, not with their fat, round bodies. You would think that bees would plummet to the ground the second they jump off of a flower petal.

Then, of course, I confirmed exactly why I don't often read poetry as my realization that this poem has nothing to do with bumblebees hit me. It was a comical metaphor, though. I fully appreciated Ms. Ash's humor.

To the author's point, just because one is born with limits, or is even declared by others as unworthy, does not mean that hope or courage should be forgotten. This actually reminds me of a movie (I mean educational video) that I saw in Biology called Gataca. It's a sci-fi futuristic movie about a man predetermined to fail in life. Because of his statistically bad genes, no one expected him to succeed at anything in life other than maybe living long enough to work a few years as a garbageman. Lucky for him, his stubbornness made him determined enough to chase his dreams of one day becoming an astronaut.

So, I know this sounds a little cliched, but... no one should feel limited or unworthy based on what others say. The only person who does the limiting is yourself. Like the bee, fly despite aerodynamics. Ignore the pessimism and do what you want.

Chicken Suop for the Unsinkable Soul (IV)

"You can't be afraid of stepping on toes if you want to go dancing."
Lewis Freedman

This saying has just made it to the top of my favorite quotes list. Wise man, that Lewis Freedman. This quote can definitely be applied to just about any life situation worth mentioning. Any obstacle you have overcome or any dream you have insisted on pursuing probably included a moment of doubt where you became unsure of whether or not to continue. In my experience, the moment of doubt arrives when weighing out the pros and cons of the situation. One of the cons will always be how your actions negatively affect those around you. For example, if I had the option between spending one week during the summer interning for a physical therapist (which is the field I would like to go into) or spending one last week with my family at the beach before school starts, I would choose the job.

Although my family would be crushed, the one week of interning would provide me with enough insight as to whether physical therapy is truly the profession I want to enter. Plus, while I would not wish to hurt my family's feelings, they will always be there for me whereas interning is a rare position for a high school student. All dreams worth going after will present similar dilemmas. And everything worth doing comes at a price, so why be afraid of the cost? Just make sure you weigh your options before hand, and everything will work out. Don't let a small price stand in your way. Like Freedman says, "you can't be afraid of stepping on toes if you want to go dancing."

Chicken Suop for the Unsinkable Soul (III)

"Sorrow" is a poem by Abraham Lincoln which talks about how often people are sad, but they must believe they will be happy again. This reminded me about an quarrel I was having with my father the other week. I don't remember exactly what we were arguing about, except that we were talking about my college decision. I decided to go to Berry, and I think he asked how I knew it is the right place for me next year. I responded by saying that I couldn't know for certain. Then he kept pressing the idea that I might be unhappy there and what would I do. I said, "I could always transfer and start over, and would you stop being so pessimistic?"

Surprisingly, he began talking in code about how he had gotten hurt one time and always braced himself for the worst. (Even though I didn't know what he was referring to, it explained a lot.) Although I completely understand how life events can shape a person's perspective, I must admit, I was kind of disappointed by his response. Maybe it's just my naivete, but I honestly don't thing life is worth anything if you can't look forward to something. Hope is a marvelous thing. And if by chance you do get hurt, you just pick yourself back up, dry off the tears, look around for the next move, and go for it. Like Lincoln says, "You are sure to be happy again." Granted, some sad things will stay with you forever, but its the ability to continually look for happiness that really makes life worth living.

Chicken Suop for the Unsinkable Soul (II)

"Youth is a gift of nature,
Age is a work of art."

The story that goes with this quote talks about a woman who decided to go back to school at the age of 37. After years of believing she was too old, she convinced herself by list the accomplishments of multiple woman, all of whom are considered "old." For example, "Grandma Moses began a painting career at the age of seventy-six. . . . Shirley Temple Black was ambassador to Ghana at the age of forty-seven. Golda Meir in 1969 was elected prime minister of Israel. She had just turned seventy-one." So she thought if they can do it, "It's my turn."

Along with this inspirational story and quote, I began thinking about age. And, I've come to several conclusions...

1) Youth lacks experience, whereas age allows enough time for experience to shape and mold a personality. The problem I have with today's society is that people focus so much on looking and being younger than they are. You spend your whole childhood trying to prove yourself a responsible human being to your parents so that they trust you. Then by the time you reach twenty-five and are living on your own, you try to look and act young again. We're living life backwards!!! Children should just enjoy childhood while it lasts. All too soon something bad is going to happen and force them to grow up anyways. So why push growing up even sooner?

2) Then, you have these fifty-year-old women trying to look thirty (like that's ever going to happen!) instead of just appreciating the live they've led and the looks they've acquired. It's like dying your hair. Why try to change it? Most people look fine with the color they were born with. Just be happy with the body you've been given. Proper diet and exercise are the only two things that should be used to change our bodies and make them "better". Otherwise, leave them alone.

3) Age must provide extra strength. Like with the lady in the story, she finally found the courage to do something that she feared. Children always run from the things they are scared of, but how often do you see an adult fleeing from something scary (that's not life-threatening)? Take spiders, for instance. I know my mom's a little scared of them. But every time we find one in the house, she just smashes it with a paper towel or shoe, whereas I go running down the hall for help. And I always think, "Wow, she is so brave!" But I figure, one day I'll have the courage to kill the spider, too. Age is a wondrous thing.

Chicken Soup for the Unsinkable Soul

Compiled By: Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, and Heather McNamara
Year: 1999

Chicken Soup for the Unsinkable Soul is a collection of 101 short stories, poems, and quotes meant to help people through times of difficulty. The first one that really grabbed my attention is actually a letter written from a mom to her daughter, Jesse.

In the letter, Jesse just finished high school and is a couple of weeks away from starting college. She's the middle child of three and watched her mother fight cancer. This may sound a little weird, but I felt like it was my mom talking to me. There were so many similarities in the anecdotes told about Jesse's life and my actually life- I couldn't help but feel a connection.

At one point, the mom says:
I know you've been looking forward to this moment for a long time. I've watched you during this past your, as the countdown has become a reality. You've worked hard and planned. That's one of the things I like best about you, your ability to run a good race. To set a goal, train and then go for it. . . . If life is a race-- though I really don't like to think this experience is anything we should rush through-- I think you're going to do well. You're in shape, you've trained hard and you have the tenacity to make it over the obstacles. I'm proud of you.

This is definitely something my mom would say and has said to me. Typically, I love setting goals, and I'm very reasonable in my goal setting. I can't recall a time that I've ever set a goal way too far out of my reach. And, not to say I always come out the victor compared to other people, but I do always make it to the finish line. I don't like to be defeated, especially when it's something that I control. For example, last spring I made my biggest goal. I decided to walk in the 3-Day Breast Cancer walk (I think I mentioned that previously). It's 60 miles and you must raise $2,200 in order to participate. Well, not being much of a walker and never having raised more than $20 in my life (and even then I had some help from my mom with Sallie Foster!), my mom practically laughed in my face when I told her of my newest endeavor. Well, if you know me, you know what I did. I defensively say, "I can to do it, and I will!" I held my head up high, turned around, and walked away- refusing to hear any negativity. I made an action plan, suck to it, and finished with flying colors. (And on the plus-side, I even made my mom cry she was so proud.)

Out of my sisters and me, I've always been the one that's kind of "out there." My mom always said my middle name should have been "Go" because I don't like to sit still and do nothing. I'm always on the run looking for adventure. Like Jesse, I can't wait to leave high school and prove myself out in the "real world." But, also like Jesse, my mom did give me "two essentials-- roots and wings." While I do need to get away, I'll always find my way back home. As long as my mom knows that, I think she'll be able to let go. And, like every caring mother, I guarantee the last advice my mom will give me before I leave for college is, "Enjoy the view. Remember you've got teammates who'll help when the course is rough. Take time to rest every once in a while, and whenever you need to. . . use your wings."

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight (II)

In lieu of talking about persuasion this week, I thought I would talk about how the lady of the castle in which Sir Gawain stayed used persuasion to try and seduce Sir Gawain. The first time the lady tries, she sways Sir Gawain with flattery, logic, and divinity. She starts by saying:
"For I know who you are, Gawain himself,
Honored all over the world. I've heard them
Praise your perfect chivalry, pure
To lords, to ladies, to everyone alive."
To a knight, this is quite a complement. Several things all knights strive to achieve are honesty, chivalry, and chastity. Her acknowledgement of his accomplishments is topnotch flattery.
Then, the lady continues by saying:
"And here you are, and we're alone,
My lord and his men away in the woods,
All men asleep, and my maids too,
Your door shut and locked with a bolt..."
Now, after the flattery, comes the logic, but twisted. She says that everyone is either out of the castle or asleep, so no one would know anything. The funny thing is that she is offering him to relinquish the virtues that she just praised him for having! This contradiction caused a loophole in the lady's argument, which gave Sir Gawain a way out.
In order to redeem her mistake, the lady then throws in her godly reasoning. She says:
"My love for our Lord who rules in Heaven
Restrains me, thought His grace has given me what
all women
Want."
Basically, she is justifying herself by backing up her desires through God's will. Piety is another aspect knights strive to obtain. This appeal to religion is the lady's last resort, and a weak one at that. For Sir Gawain is much smarter and more willful than she originally thought. After trying for three nights, the lady finally gave up. Her modes of persuasion were no match for the noble Sir Gawain.

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight

By Unknown
Year: late 14th Century

Of all the lovely Arthurian novels and movies I have exposed myself to, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is by far the strangest so far for one reason only. Now, I can accept the possibly false fact that Merlin was a magician and Excalibur was a magical sword. I believe in the fairytale of the Nights of the Round Table and damsels in distress falling in love with their rescuers. However, I cannot possibly believe that Sir Gawain would go gallivanting off in search of the Green Knight to meet his looming death. Sir Gawain chopped the knight's head off, for goodness sake! And you expect me to believe that the Green Knight just picked it back up and walked out of the room (with the head still talking, mind you) with Sir Gawain ready to follow?

In today's society, no man would ever play the game in which the Green Knight initiated and actually hold up their end of the bargain. Typically, you either initiate the fight or run from the fight. The idea of chivalry in medieval times was immaculate. If one made a promise, they kept it. If one's honor was disputed, they fought to prove their worthiness. As a knight, Sir Gawain was bound to uphold a certain standard. Since the Green Knight mocked King Arthur, Sir Gawain, in Arthur's defense, gave the blow that dismembered the Green Knight's head. Already defending his pride, Sir Gawain also agrees to uphold his honor as a man by riding to his death a year and a day later. To ignore his end of the bargain would have surely brought shame upon Sir Gawain. The level of good ol' fashioned courage and honesty still shocks me. Can you imagine what our world would look like if everyone upheld the same honor-code that the Knight of the Round Table have? Wow!!! Despite the unrealistic magically Green Knight, I believe that the societal manners found in medieval times were extraordinary.

An American Childhood (IV)

How did the opening passage of the book lead you to anticipate the ending of the book?

The opening paragraph starts out somewhat depressing. Dillard discusses the aspect of loosing your memory as you age. First, basic facts disappear. Then, your own life experiences go. Finally, the memory of your friends and family fade. What left? Topology, according to Dillard. This fearful passage deals with letting go of the known. Willing or unwilling, memories will die. Everything moves. Everything changes. Nothing remains constant, which is a prevalent theme in Dillard's An American Childhood.

By the end of the book, Dillard is eighteen and leaving for college. Similar fears arise of leaving the known world of Pittsburgh. Her childhood, her friends, and all she's ever been a part of will begin fading and blending together as Dillard moves on with her life. Although she is excited to leave, Dillard cannot help but feeling scared, as all teenagers are when they leave for college. I, myself, have many doubts and fears related to leaving Decatur behind. Of course, I will visit on occasion, but the life I know will disappear the instant that I leave. Younger children will move up and replace my class. Teachers will retire. Friendships will falter. The close knit community I have been creating for myself for the past twelve years of my life will no longer protect me. Given a few years and much of the community will no longer know my name. All Dillard and I have left is the unknown future. The past will fade, and all that remains is topology. Dillard has come full circle.

An American Childhood (III)

Did the book come to a satisfactory closure for you? Why/why not?

The book's ending did not fully satisfy me. The majority of the last chapter consisted of Dillard talking about her drawing, which I do not personally care to hear about. There is the possibility that her drawing was a metaphor for something, but I failed to realized what.

I did like, however, the last page of the An American Childhood. It talked about Dillard leaving her high school and moving on to college. The college of her choice was Hollins College in Virginia. The headmistress wanted Dillard to attend there in the hope that Hollins College would "smooth off her rough edges." Dillard's response was "I had hopes for my rough edges. I wanted to use them as a can opener, to cut myself a hole in the world's surface, and exit through it. Would I be ground, instead, to a nub? Would they send me home, an ornament to my breed, in a jewelry bag?" This dialogue, to me, summed up every wild girl's fear of growing up. Will society chew you up and spit you out as a conforming, well-behaved young lady? Dillard was completely content with who she was and didn't want any one to change her. I, personally, applaud her stubbornness and hope that she never changed.

Unfortunately, that small snippet of dialogue was the only part of the ending that I truly enjoyed. The last sentence ends with Dillard once again talking about early settlers around the rivers, which leaves the reader wondering about how the past came to be the present.

An American Childhood (II)

Comment on the perspective from which the book is told and how the author's choice affects your relationship with the book's content. 

Annie Dillard naturally writes in first person since An American Childhood is an autobiography of her life. Strangely, the narrator tells the story from the point of view of whatever age Dillard was at that point in time but with amplified adult word choice. Obviously, a child would not think of the figurative language described to the reader, but the imaginative observations are clearly only from a child's perspective. Previously, I referred to the examination of skin to past the time. This excerpt encompasses one aspect of the child's perspective on life: 

"Loose under their shinbones, as in hammocks, hung the relaxed flesh of their calves. You could push and swing this like a baby in a swing. Their heals were dry and hard, sharp at the curved edge. The bottom of their toes had flattened, holding the imprint of life's smooth floors even when they were lying down. I would not let this happen to me." 

The reader can see Annie Dillard pushing the calve muscle of her parents back and forth, watching it swing. These small amusements in life are what separate childhood from adulthood. While no child has the same experiences in life, Dillard connects through the imagination and observation common to all children. An American Childhood encompasses the essence of young human behavior so that all readers may connect and laugh at the funny ways a child learns about life. 

An American Childhood

Annie Dillard
1987

Why did you choose this book? What were your expectations? Why did you expect what you did? How is the book living up to your expectations?

Several weeks ago we read an excerpt from an Annie Dillard novel. The chapter title was called "The Chase" in which the young girl recounts a one-sided snowball fight with passing cars that turned into a run for her life. While I do not typically enjoy reading from a literature textbook, I was quite taken by this particular excerpt. Something in the way Dillard told her story reminded me of my childhood. Much to my pleasant surprise, I found Dillard's An American Childhood (which is the book "The Chase" is from) in my uncle's massive book collection and decided to read it.

From what I had read previously, I expected Dillard's childhood to be filled with as much adventure and imagination as mine was. After reading her account of running with the football boys through the town (probably in a time when girls weren't suppose to be doing that), I instantly fell in love with the tomboyish child. And yet, I somehow figured she would still turn out to be a normal adult female.

Surprisingly, An American Childhood is much different from what I had imagined. Dillard does an impressive job of quickly and concisely describing her life in Pittsburgh. The reader gains much incite from a limited amount of knowledge. However, unlike "The Chase," so far Dillard's childhood has lacked the major events I thought she would surely write about. Her young life is fairly boring and uneventful from an adult's perspective. She spends her time examining family members' skin and memorizing the layout of Pittsburgh. Although An American Childhood is an autobiography, I was under the impression that her life was filled with enough excitement that she just HAD to write a story of her childhood. Even though I was slightly disappointed, I did learn one thing. . . . Most childhoods are relatively mundane in retrospect. What makes them so amazing is the mere fact that the life events are seen through a child's eye. Everything is a new and exciting experience. Annie Dillard does an amazing job showing the reader how children perceive the world.

Daughter of the Forest

Fate verses Free Will

Okay, so if you've had Ms. Williams you know the argument. She claims that divine being or some kind of high power determine and influence human lives, and if you somehow manage to stray from this set path, "the gods will punish you". You, as the student, try the whole semester to prove her wrong, that humans choose their own destiny. In the end, the student always fails, and Ms. Williams comes out the victor. The same goes for Daughter of the Forest.

Continually, the reader fights to understand the battle between fate and free will. Although the reader knows the Fair Folk have a hand in the way things go, you never know to what extent. Several times when the Fair Folk intervene the reader believes that the Fair Folk are lending a hand to point Sorcha towards the right path. But, after they are gone, the reader switches back over to believe Sorcha makes her own way in life. Being such a stubborn girl, one just assumes she is making her own choices. But once Sorcha meets Red, Sorcha herself voices her questions to the reader. She, in fact, thinks the Fair Folk have placed a curse on Red to make him stay and protect her. Now that the heroine falters in her understanding of the world, the reader too questions the validity of free will.

In the end, the Fair Folk visit Sorcha one last time and say, "Your work for us is nearly finished. You have been strong. Almost too strong." Clearly, Sorcha was part of some greater plan, but by being "almost to strong", the Fair Folk imply that she had the power to choose her path. Once again the conflict of destiny arises. The author seems to be under the impression that the beginning and end are planned out but the middle remains open to debate.

Daughter of the Forest

Twice a year, on midsummer and midwinter's eve, six graceful swans turn back into human form between sunset and sunrise. These morphisms are the only times Sorcha can be with her brothers. Although she must remain silent, Sorcha has the capability to speak to Finbar, the strong-minded steadfast one, and Conor, the wise Druid, mind-to-mind. They can read each other's thoughts and feelings as they share a special bond apart from the other three brothers. The night after Sorcha was raped, Finbar spent his entire night as a human filling her mind with happy, fearless thoughts. The longer Finbar used his power, the weaker he became. Then, each time afterwards he changed form, his personality gradually dwindled. In the end, Finbar shifted from a (word that means seeking justice), well-spoken mediator into a silent, fearfully lost half-human.

Finbar is just one example of character growth in Daughter of the Forest. Sorcha and Simon also grew an exponential amount. However, many characters stayed the same, which made me wonder why those particular characters emotionally matured more than others. And it occurred to me that they gave the most of themselves for a cause that they believed most in. Sorcha sacrificed her world of safety and comfort to save her brothers; Simon wanted to prove his worth to the world; and Finbar struggled to to make the world a just place, a most formidable task on all their parts. My conclusion: the ones who give the most of themselves change the most with time. Experiences shape who you are. So, for example, if all your experiences revolve around giving yourself to others, you will become part of everyone you influence, which creates a stronger version of humanity. Those who generously give of themselves are the ones who most change the world.

Daughter of the Forest

It's funny how places you are least likely to go end up becoming a place of refuge. After Sorcha had been violated in the worst possible way and scared out of her mind, she fled from her woodsy setup with only a few materials to travel with, including her starwort shirts. Sorcha had jumped into a boat, let it drift down a river, fell overboard, and ended up being saved by a Britain, one of her father's greatest enemies. Lucky for her, instead of killing his captive, Red (nickname of the Britain) decided to keep Sorcha for some valuable information. Of course, Sorcha is bound to silence, so Red (being the uncharacteristically patient man that he is) made the decision to take Sorcha back home with him and wait until she is able to communicate to him what he needs to know.

So Sorcha, for the first time in her life, traveled across the ocean to Britain where she stays with Red in a town known as Harrowfield. Red, a.k.a Lord Hugh of Harrowfield, owns the town and, therefore, is able to protect Sorcha from any prejudice and threats the town may impose. For the time being, Sorcha finds herself out of her evil stepmother's reach and able to focus on completing her task of weaving shirts. Ironically, Sorcha has found a safe haven nestled deep in her enemy's lair.

Daughter of the Forest

Oh my goodness!!! Sorcha's journey has been announced, and it is not a pretty sight. Basically, the evil stepmother (how cliched) turned all six brothers into swans, which means two things. First, I was right in my prediction about some type of bird being prevalent in the book. Second, Sorcha's straight and narrow path has now been twisted into a roller coaster ride of unfathomable length. In order to turn her brothers back into human form, she must sew together one shirt for each brother made out of a poisonous, thorny plant that makes flesh burn and puss. She can have no help; all aspects of the shirt must be made through her sweat and tears, even the thread. Oh, and did I mention that Sorcha must remain silent the entire time? Not one sound may escape her lips until all completed shirts rest around the necks of each swan. If she utters one peep before time, her brothers will remain as swans forever, trapped in a world that knows only hunger, shelter, and fear.

Sorcha's willingness to comply, strength of character, and love of family remains unmatched in today's society. Do you know anyone today that would willingly give up speech for who-knows-how-many-years and torture him/her self by handling poisonous thorns in order to save their siblings. Think about it; no one is that selfless or loves that deeply. Most children today grow up fighting with their siblings instead of learning to work together and appreciate one another's strengths and weaknesses. Siblings are suppose to be a team that win together and fails together. Many of those "old-fashioned" courtesies have been forgotten. I vehemently believe that a strong bond between sisters or brothers makes life's difficulties much easier. In this case, Sorcha will be able to complete her task solely because the bond with her brothers is made of steel and reinforced everyday with love. Otherwise, she would fail.

Daughter of the Forest

Although Sorcha has not yet begun her destined journey, I can already see the prevalence of nature as a theme. But Sorcha's relationship with the forest she grows up in offers more than just the necessities of life. The religion of her people focuses on the giving and taking of nature. If you take wood from the tree for a fire, you give the tree a small token of thanks. In addition, nature provides protection from outsiders and offers the power of healing from it's leaves and roots. According to Sorcha, any outsiders who try to find their way through the surrounding trees, even if following a path, will surely wind up lost. Yet she and her brothers somehow always know their way. How mysterious. She attributes it to her heritage, but I think the author implies a more magical element to the story. I'll have to wait to find out if I'm right.

Although most of the nature theme is verbalized directly through Sorcha blatantly informing the reader and through her conversations with other characters, there also seems to be an underlying stream of nature references. Several metaphors have contained references to white, beating wings and flying, suggesting some sort of bird. I believe this may be some foreshadowing of what's to come, but I can't be sure.

Sorcha's family seems to be connected to nature in a variety of ways. On her mother's deathbed, Sorcha's brothers planted a tree, which apparently holds the mother's spirit, by a lake. Twice a year the children gather around the tree to reconnect with their mother and to remind themselves that they are all part of each other. Each child appears to represent some part of nature as well. Liam, the eldest, is the solid, steadfast leader- like an oak tree. Diarmond, the second born, is more flexible but just as strong- a willow tree. Comrack (one of the twins) is eager about everything in life and is extremely loyal, like his dog Linn. Conor, the other twin, is like the wind- everywhere at once but nowhere at the same time. He's the mystery; one cannot grasp his being; Conor is an entity of his own. Finbar, Sorcha's closest brother, is water. Unwavering, always flowing in one direction, Finbar does not falter from his sense of self. Piadric, the youngest brother, is like a bird- far fetching and will travel to great heights to reach his goal. Last, there is Sorcha. She is the sun. She lights the way for all brothers, shows them the truth in her own innocent eyes, and keeps everyone in sight of what's important in life. Combined, the seven children are unstoppable. They are nature.

Daughter of the Forest

By Juliet Marillier           Published: 2002

Who do you think is the intended audience? Does the author have a friendly, unfriendly, or some other type of relationship with the audience? Why?

Daughter of the Forest highlights the life of a thirteen year old Irish heroin by the name of Sorcha, who lives a time of unrest between the British and Irish noblemen. Sorcha tells her tale in a first-person narrative. Her brothers become your brothers; her fears become your fears; and her deep-seated pain becomes your pain. The reader almost infuses him/her self into Sorcha's mind  so that the audience gains a deeply personal relationship with all of Sorcha's family, friends, and even enemies. 

From what I've read so far, Sorcha is at that point in her life where she looks must younger in years than her mind is able to think. She is emotionally mature and mentally acute. However, she still remains naive in many life experiences, mainly due to her sheltered lifestyle. Her six brothers are always there to protect her, no matter what. Her first chance to prove herself came with healing a dangerously-close-to-death young man who had been tortured. Unfortunately, Sorcha was forced to leave before completely finishing her healing, which I think hindered her opportunity to prove her strength to her brothers. I get the feeling, though, that this novel will take the reader on Sorcha's long and ruff journey ahead full of self-discovery, courage, and strength. Because of the point of view and storyline, the audience must be intended for teenage girls who are trying to find themselves in a world full of protective defenders blocking all hints of danger. A true coming of age story.