Dear Mr Groff,
I have currently been reading a book called The Been Trees. It is an interesting read so far, although I am currently not too far into it. One of the main idea's that I am seeing in this novel is the need to make something of yourself, and go against the norm of the society that you live in.
In The Bean Trees by Barbara Kingsolver, Missy Greer, is a young woman in school, who feels the need to make something of herself. She is surrounded by individuals who have not been able to make anything of their lives. The norm, is parenting at an early age, and dropping out of school. The women in Missy's society, have been known to conform just because it is expected. They don't even try to create something of themselves, because they are made to believe that they will be a certain way. A woman named Jolene dropped out of school and got pregnant at an early age. Missy asked her why and she replied, "Why not, my daddy'd been calling me a slut practically since I was thirteen, so why the hell not?" (Kingsolver 9). Jolene was made to believe that getting pregnant was the life for her, and it would happen regardless of what she thought. Instead of fighting it, she chose the easy way, conforming. She gave up the chance to create a life for herself, all because of what was expected.
Missy knows that this is not the life for her, and she will go to great lengths to create her own story, and not conform to what is expected. She wants to finish school, and do something that will make her happy with her life, not something that she felt was going to happen anyways. She graduated from school, got a good job at a hospital, and then decided she was going to explore what was beyond Pittman County. After she saved some of her well earned money, she bought a car and headed out West.
I have often felt the desire to be different, and unexpected. I live in a small community where everybody knows everything almost the moment it has happened. Almost as if it were broadcasted on the radio. Most of the people here are alike, just with a few little alterations. We are all expected to work hard during summers, complete school, and go on to find a good career. Although this is a good and respectable thing to do, I would much rather finish school and go traveling for a year. Although I would like to find a career that will fill my life with prosperity, I have always gravitated towards children. I would love nothing more than to create a family, and spend my time with my children and husband. Some might call me a dreamer, or immature for wishing that life on myself at such a young age, but I know it would make me happy. Although, In order to have my wish fulfilled, I must create a lifestyle that is expected of me. In order to support a family, I must get a career that will allow me to gain wealth and respect.
So for now, I suppose I will keep my wishes to myself, and pretend that I have the same wishes as my family. From the outside looking in, I will be seen as Desiree Danielson, a young woman with enthusiasm to create a successful career, proper lifestyle, and high standards. But in my heart and soul, I will remain the young dreamer, who wants nothing more than to spread love and joy with a family that I have created.
Happy reading!!
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas
Dear Mr. Groff,
I just finished reading a terrific novel called The boy in the Striped Pajamas, by John Boyne. In my opinion, the book is terrific because it has meaning and depth. It is not a novel that someone would pick up for a simple read, or to waste some time. This novel is meant to show you how friendship can blossom through the most unusual, and even unsettling, circumstances.
A naive and young German boy named Bruno, manages to find an irrevocable friendship with a Jewish child named Shmuel. This was very unusual, as Bruno's father was a German commandment and Shmuel was locked away in an internment camp. Though both boys, during the time era they were in, would have been brain washed into believing the other was a monster, their innocence and naivety prevails to create a friendship of a lifetime.
This book makes me believe that anything is possible. It shows me that although there may be set barriers, they are not concrete. Finding a real and genuine friendship is hard, and if there is an opportunity to receive one, take it, because you never know when you will have another chance. Throughout my life I have been hurt, I have been walked on, and I have been emotionally bruised by those that I called "friends". I have also done my fair share of hurting others, for reasons that I, nor anyone who has also participated in the things that I have, should be proud of. I have looked away from those who have truly been there for me, supported me unconditionally, and loved me for who I am, all because of barriers that were placed between us.
During my early teenage years, I was invincible, or so I thought. I thought that I was popular, pretty, and didn't have to worry about never having friends. My beliefs made me a very conceited person, although I didn't see it at the time. I managed to find myself some new friends, who were like myself, in a lot of ways. Little did I know, they were just as shallow as I was. I began spending more of my time with them, and less time with my previous friends; friends who had been there for me since I began my early years of school. While my new friendships were being created, a new relationship took place as well. I found a boyfriend, who at the time, I thought was perfect. Although now I know that it was far from perfect, at the time I just didn't know what was "normal" or "expected" in a relationship, due to lack of experience.
With my friendships, and my relationship, I went along with whatever actions were presented to me, because I assumed that it would be the right thing to do. I assumed that they would know better than I, and I should just go along with it. While growing up, I realized that I had an opinion, and that my actions effected my own life. I could choose my own decisions, whether they go against the grain or with, and they had the power to make me happier than I had ever been. One of the biggest things in life, is learning how to blaze your own trail and create a story for yourself, without accepting the plot of another individuals story.
This book has only made me confirm my newly gained knowledge on the difference between conforming to a lifestyle, and creating a lifestyle.
Happy reading!!
I just finished reading a terrific novel called The boy in the Striped Pajamas, by John Boyne. In my opinion, the book is terrific because it has meaning and depth. It is not a novel that someone would pick up for a simple read, or to waste some time. This novel is meant to show you how friendship can blossom through the most unusual, and even unsettling, circumstances.
A naive and young German boy named Bruno, manages to find an irrevocable friendship with a Jewish child named Shmuel. This was very unusual, as Bruno's father was a German commandment and Shmuel was locked away in an internment camp. Though both boys, during the time era they were in, would have been brain washed into believing the other was a monster, their innocence and naivety prevails to create a friendship of a lifetime.
This book makes me believe that anything is possible. It shows me that although there may be set barriers, they are not concrete. Finding a real and genuine friendship is hard, and if there is an opportunity to receive one, take it, because you never know when you will have another chance. Throughout my life I have been hurt, I have been walked on, and I have been emotionally bruised by those that I called "friends". I have also done my fair share of hurting others, for reasons that I, nor anyone who has also participated in the things that I have, should be proud of. I have looked away from those who have truly been there for me, supported me unconditionally, and loved me for who I am, all because of barriers that were placed between us.
During my early teenage years, I was invincible, or so I thought. I thought that I was popular, pretty, and didn't have to worry about never having friends. My beliefs made me a very conceited person, although I didn't see it at the time. I managed to find myself some new friends, who were like myself, in a lot of ways. Little did I know, they were just as shallow as I was. I began spending more of my time with them, and less time with my previous friends; friends who had been there for me since I began my early years of school. While my new friendships were being created, a new relationship took place as well. I found a boyfriend, who at the time, I thought was perfect. Although now I know that it was far from perfect, at the time I just didn't know what was "normal" or "expected" in a relationship, due to lack of experience.
With my friendships, and my relationship, I went along with whatever actions were presented to me, because I assumed that it would be the right thing to do. I assumed that they would know better than I, and I should just go along with it. While growing up, I realized that I had an opinion, and that my actions effected my own life. I could choose my own decisions, whether they go against the grain or with, and they had the power to make me happier than I had ever been. One of the biggest things in life, is learning how to blaze your own trail and create a story for yourself, without accepting the plot of another individuals story.
This book has only made me confirm my newly gained knowledge on the difference between conforming to a lifestyle, and creating a lifestyle.
Happy reading!!
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