Blog 14

I have finished the 3rd and final book of the Hunger Games.  Mockingjay was full of surprises.  Without going into too much detail this book was truly the best out of the 3.  At times it brought tears to my eyes.  Other times it made me smile and gave me goose bumps.  The ending was the perfect end to the story.  I really enjoyed all three of these books and can't wait to see the move that will be coming out in March of 2012.  I hope that the movie can do the book justice.  I have told many people about the books and have lent my copies out to those who wanted to read it.  I can't explain how it feels to talk with someone about the books that has enjoyed them as much as I do.  I even told my sons 4th grade teacher about it and she finished the first book in a week and is waiting on her copy of Catching Fire from Amazon.com.  I am glad I got to be in this Reading class and got to meet Stephanie.  I am excited to try other books on your list.  Thanks for getting me interested in reading again.

blog week 13 Free choice

I have just started the book Room.  It’s about a little boy who is 5 and his mother who have been locked into a room by his mother’s kidnapper.  The boy has never seen the outside of the room and his mother does her best to make things as normal for him as possible.  I am not too far into the book yet but it seems like it will be pretty interesting.  If I could ask the author a question about the book it would be if the book was based on a true story?  My assumption of the book is that the woman was kidnapped and her kidnapper is the father of her 5 yr old son.  They are being kept in a room where they eat, sleep and play.  The mother I don't think is in good health but still finds the strength to get up every day and teach the boy different things and play with him.  They have also made toys out of different things that other people would consider to be garbage.  For example a string threaded through a bunch of egg shells that is kept under the bed.  The boy knows when his mother is visited by the stranger at night.  He says that the room temp. is different.  I am trying hard to find the time to finish this book.

blog week 12

•             Write a review of the book. Would you recommend it? Why or why not? Would you have changed any element of the story?

   I don’t enjoy reading much but after reading the Hunger Games I couldn’t wait to read the second book in the series, Catching Fire.  The book picks up right where the first one left off.  I was excited to get started to find out how people in the capitol would respond to the double suicide attempt made by Katnise and Peete. 

   Both books are filled with action and excitement.  I found myself gasping out loud at time and tearing up when something tragic happens.  The writer does a great job of helping you get to know the characters without the boring introductions that seem to go on forever in other books that I have read.  At some points in the book I felt as if I was right there with them.  Many times I would find it hard to put the book down.  It keeps you on the edge of your seat and eager to keep reading just to see what will happen next.  Although you know the book is fiction, it seemed so real to me while I read it. 

  I personally don’t know of anything I would change about these books.  They are easy to read and even easier to lose yourself in.  Me being a non-reader am now on the third and final book in The Hunger Games series and have loved every word of them.  I am super excited to know that there will be a movie coming out this fall based on the books.  I am hoping that the movie will be as good or even better than the book are.  I totally recommend them for anyone to read.

week 11 blog

• What did I learn from the text?

I read in the Bridging the Gap book about how it is important to get enough sleep.  I stay up late at night and get up early.  There is no way around that but I think I will start trying to get in a nap now and then after what I read. 

Sleep is important for many reasons.  Mentally it gives your brain time to debrief in a sort.  Not sleeping can cause you to become delusional and irritable.  This can affect your life in many negative ways.  Being grouchy with friends and family is how it affects me.  My youngest son always says, “I think someone is needing a nap!” when I am tired. 

Being stressed can cause you to need more sleep.  After a long day when I sit down to relax I tend to get tired quickly.  The stresses of the day are draining and make you tired. 

Not getting enough sleep can physically take its toll on you as well.  Being tired can affect the way you drive or even walk causing you to be unaware of what is going on around you. 

I am going to try to get more sleep.  Between school, homework, kids, and my house work that don’t leave a lot of time to rest. Some people go on with being sleep deprived for so long that their body will finally just stop and force itself to sleep so you can get the rest that is needed. Even a quick 15 minute nap can make a difference in somebodies mental and physical wellbeing.