Summer 2010

Author's note: This took forever to make; starting with the collage on the left and getting all of the pictures to look good together, then blending the picture on the right into the collage, and rounding the courners on picnik. It took awhilee, but I think it turned out pretty cool. :) Can't wait for summerr. :)

And this is how it ends.. :/

Author's Note: Frienship breakups suck. End of story. :(

Thinking back to how things were,
Reminiscing, everything's a blur
Deep dark secrets that we'd never share
Why did this happen? It just isn't fair

What did I do wrong?
Why's this happening to me?
I thought you were my friend,
Now it's easier to see:

You gossip for hours
Not the way we did
This time it's about me
About things I never once did

Forever and always
Not anymore
We're miles away
From how we were before.

Author's Symbolism

Author's Note: Here is a response to Mark Haddon's novel, The Curious Incident of the dog in the Night-time. This response is mainly about the symbolism in this novel and the other novels that we have read. It points out the meaning behind that symbolism, and the people involved with it.

In each of the many novels we have read throughout the course of the past two years, we have seen many different author's takes on the lives we live, with their use of symbolism. In the novel The Curious Incident of the dog in the Night-time, Mark Haddon's main character struggles from autism, making me wonder what exactly his inspiration was when writing this novel. In the first few sentences of the novel, an innocent poodle is killed, which in my opinion is showing us that those who refuse to believe in the possibilities in life, are those who are too scared to embrace their true feelings and those who are not strong enough to live with the truth.

:D

Author's Note: This is what I made instead of doing my homework the other night. Haha it's a jumble of some of my favorite quotes. :)

Life Without Purpose

To read my essay response to Graham Greene's novel, The Power and the Glory, visit my essay blog. The link is at the top of my blog, and be sure to give me your feedback.

Thanks :)

-Taylor

Human or Animal?

Author's Note: Here is a response to Graham Greene's novel The Power and the Glory. This is a response regarding the mestizo -- a traitor who lives the life of an animal.

With two fanged teeth and an animal like personality to match, the mestizo represents what it truly means to live like a dog. Sleeping in jail cells as if they are a hotel, perfectly comfortable laying next to his own vomit, and being known as a modern day Judas, this life is not a life which we would be proud to live, for only an animal would have the patience to put up with it.

While running from the government, the priest encounters this mestizo and spends the night with him while camping out in a nearby hut. From the start the priest, "was determined not to sleep -- the man had some plan…He knew. He was in the presence of Judas." (p. 91) It is clear the mestizo is going to end up in the layer of hell with those who do not stand up for something in their life, for revolving your life around yourself and never actually standing up for something, is a waste of a life and that person never really deserved to live at all. The animal like life which the mestizo lives is not a life which we would ever want to even consider living for those who betray, those who never stand up for something, and those who are okay with these sins, never deserved life in the first place.

Religous Traitors

Author's Note: In the novel The Power and the Glory, religion is not only frowned upon, it is considered illegal. This response is talking about the power of religion and with it banned, people now have to find a new "crutch" to turn to in their time of need.

When living in an ironic world where nothing seems to be going the way you planned, what would you turn to for reasurrance and comfort? With billions of people in the world, it is clear that not everyone is going to like us, but when we stand up for something we truly believe in, these opinions don't seem to matter much at all. Throughout the course of the novel The Power and the Glory, characters are tested and true personalities are revealed as the controlling government decides what will be considered right and what will be considered wrong.


Religion is thought to be one of the main crutches in todays society, for when everything seems to be going wrong we can always turn to God and know that things will all work out in the end. However now that religion is illegal, and priests turn to traiters, would we have the guts to stand up for our beliefs? Having priests turn against their own religion is exactly what the government was hoping would happen as if they are telling them that they do not need religion, that they are the only leaders they need in order to survive.