4th Quarter Outside Reading Book

Soul Surfer By: Bethany Hamilton. Pocket Books, 2004. Non- Fiction

While Bethany Hamilton, age 13, was surfing on an early Halloween morning with her friend, and shark came and bit her arm off. She got back to the shore, and almost died from blood loss. But later after having surgery, and staying in the hospital for a while, Bethany was optimistic and courageous. She fought to get back in the water and surf, and wasn’t afraid of any sharks or failure.

“Soul Surfer is a moving account of Bethany’s life as a younger surfer, her recovery in the wake of the shark attack, the adjustments she’s made to her unique surfing style, her unprecedented bid for a top showing in the World Championships, and, most fundamentally, her belief in god. It is a story of girl power and spiritual grit that shows that the body is no more than essential to surfing-perhaps even less so- than the soul.”

Since this book is an autobiography, it has a lot to do with what Bethany was thinking. It focuses mainly on after the attack, and how different her life has become. God, and prayer play a major part in this book, and the reader or audience can tell that religion is a big part of Bethany’s life. Also during this book, it is always displaying a very optimistic and positive mood. Bethany describes her courage to get back into the water, and does it in a way that makes the reader confident and interested.
Since the shark attack Bethany has written 3 books. Although I have not read the others, which are called, Soul Surfer Bible NIV, and Storm, I know that they are both based on her love for surfing, overcoming her disability, and her faith in god.

“I had no warning at all; not even the slightest hint of danger on the horizon. The water was crystal clear and calm; it was more like swimming in a pool, rather than the deep ocean waters in Kauai, Hawaii, where I go almost every morning to surf…” (pg.3)

I turned into a big fan of Bethany Hamilton after reading this book. It amazed me how someone could be so fearless and courageous after getting bitten by a 15-foot tiger shark. I knew once I heard her story I would get the book, and read it right away.

Poetry

Rain Storm

As I sit on the concrete,
I wait for rain. Not just a mist,
Or a sprinkle,
But a hard pouring rain storm.
It has been to long with the skies
Dark and cloudy, and the earth thirsty.

As the bolt of lightning
Illuminates the dark sky,
The rain starts hitting the ground.
Steam rises from the burning pavement,
While worms slither through the
Soaked grass.

Running through the wind,
Twirling through the rain,
The earth is now happy.
The rain changes to a light fall,
Which makes it quieter.
The excitement has ended,
And it might be a while until the
Earth is relieved again.

Old Man and the Sea Essay

Throughout the story, The Old Man and the Sea, the main character Santiago faces many challenges, but shows strength and perseverance to overcome them. He has a hard life and difficult job, and the four main problems come about him when he is getting ready to go fishing, or out on the harsh sea. In my opinion these challenges will change his life forever, and be things he will never forget, but he does a good job of looking to the future, being optimistic, and overcoming the problems.
The first problem he faces is poverty. He has very little to live off of, but has some help from the boy. He doesn’t have advanced fishing gear like others, or fancy boats, but he does have skill and knowledge of his profession. Before going out to sea, he says to the boy, “One sheet. That’s two dollars and a half. Who can we borrow this from?” (pg. 18) This shows that Santiago has no money to his name, and he has to rely on others to be able to fish and purchase bait. Luckily he has people that trust him because he is noble, which allows him to fish daily.
When the lonely old man is out at sea, a major challenge he faces is trying to catch the marlin. The 18 foot, 1000 pound marlin is towing Santiago out to sea, and he can't do anything about it because of the marlin’s incredible strength. “I’m being towed by a fish and I’m the towing bitt.” (pg. 45) When he says this he means that he is the bitt, and a bitt is the mechanism that secures lines. All Santiago can do is stand in the skiff, and be the secure bitt because he is determined to catch this fish after coming home empty handed 84 days in a row.
Sharks are one problem that Santiago will never forget. When he had finally caught the aggressive marlin after being out to sea for so long, and putting in so much effort, sharks started frantically eating the marlin meat. The ambitious old man tried everything, including using his fists, and all of his weapons. “The shark closed fast astern and when he hit the fish the old man saw his mouth open and his strong eyes and the clicking chop of the teeth as he dove forward in the meat just above the tail.” (pg. 101) This quote shows that Santiago could not prevent what was happening, and that the threatening sharks would eventually eat all of the remaining meat. All he could do was watch as the flesh was torn from the shiny marlin, which he could have gotten valuable money for.
The last struggle that Santiago faces is having to go home empty-handed. He doesn’t have any money, like he stated before, and hasn’t caught anything in a long time. Also, after he brought home the skeleton of the marlin, he had to hear the murmur of people talking about it. “‘What’s that?’ She asked a waiter and pointed to the long backbone of the great fish that was now just garbage waiting to go out with the tide.” (pg. 126) This quote shows that Santiago went through all the trouble of catching the marlin, and now tourists just think it is some big shark that is going to be taken out to sea. He then lays at home, delirious, and the boys tries to console him about the journey of the marlin. I think that the old man probably felt bad, or might resent catching the fish, because the marlin could have been swimming free, but instead he caught it, and then allowed cynical sharks to tear it to pieces.
The book The Old Man and the Sea shows that people have many struggles in their lives, but they need to overcome them and move forward to continue doing something they love. Santiago is a fighter in this book, and a perfect example of someone who doesn’t do their job for money, but for accomplishment and pride. He is devoted to what he does, and has a lot of knowledge of fishing, and that is why he is a role model in this book. He shows strength through the journey of catching a marlin, even if he is an old man, and never gives up.

3rd Quarter Outside Reading Book Review

 
No Place Like Home By Mary Higgins Clark. Simon & Schuster 2005   Genre: Fiction

“In No Place Like Home, the main character named Liza Barton killed her mother accidentally, while trying to save her from her stepfather. She then injured her stepfather with the pistol. She was 10 when this happened, and after a trail, she was acquitted. 24 years later her second husband purchases her the same home where the murders took place. Liza, who changed her name to Ceila, is harassed, and then the people around her start being killed. She is determined to prove her innocence secretly, and stay alive.   

“ Mary Higgins Clark [possesses an] awesome gift for storytelling… A cunning variation on the haunted-house theme.” –The New York Times

Mary Higgins Clark leaves you wanting to keep reading in this book, and in all the other pieces she has written. In No Place Like Home, she never lets the reader know who the criminal or murderer is, and lets them use their imagination until the climax and resolution in reached, or to think of a possible ending of their own. She then finds a thrilling climax which usually has a very dramatic twist on the whole story, and something will happen that the reader never expected. Mary Higgins Clark also used a lot of foreshadowing, because the main character’s past was what the whole story was based on.
Also in No Place Like Home, the author shows the mood very well. The setting is not always that clear, but the scenes and events that happen are. An example of an image that she described very good was when the house had been vandalized. 3rd person is used which allows you to know what almost all of the characters are thinking. This controls the tone of the story.

“My mother’s eyes were lighter, a sapphire blue, picture perfect with her golden hair. My hair would be dark blonde if I left it natural.” pg. 6

I chose this book because I enjoy reading books my Mary Higgins Clark. She has very good plots and themes to her book which encourage the reader not to put the book down. They usually are somewhat thrilling, and almost always have something to do with murder or a crime, but that is what makes her writing different and very interesting. Some of my favorite books are pieces that she has written, like Two Girls in Blue.

The Life Changing Fire

It was June 1st, and approaching the end of Hilary’s 10th grade school year. She was happy it was summer, and wanted to go home, relax and swim. Hilary walked outside of West Oak High school, and went to the curb were she waited for her father diurnally. 20 minutes later she was still waiting, but decided he was just running late. Her father’s name was Robert Latner, and he worked at Hampton Hospital. He was a benevolent man who achieved notoriety in the hospital for neurosurgeon and performed many surgeries with prowess. Hilary started to walk home, as she appreciated the warm zephyr and relaxing weather. She turned around the block, almost at her house. The next thing she saw would change the rest of her life.
Billowing piles of smoke rose to the sky. Her backpack crashed to the ground, and the sound of her feet running echoed against the cracked pavement. Her biggest fear was now facing her, losing everything she had. By the time Hilary reached her blazing home, tears had been streaked against her face, and her now feeble house was crumbling. Firemen and police cars swarmed the house, and there was also an ambulance. An ambulance. She remembered her father, and how he was late to pick her up. Was he ok? Is he trapped inside? Hilary ran to the police officer nearest to her.
“My name is Hilary Latner, and where is my father?” she screamed while crying.
“He escaped from the fire, and is at the hospital now. He has some burns on his arms, but nothing bad.” said the gaunt police officer.
A wave of relief came over Hilary, but she was still terrified for her home. Where would she stay, and how did this happen?
“I can bring you to the hospital now to be with your dad if you’d like. It’s not safe to be here, especially with all the smoke.” The police officer said breaking her thoughts.
“But what about my house!” Hilary said panicked.
“There is nothing you can do now Hilary, just come with me.” He said in a grave voice.

For Hilary the ride seemed like an eternity. She knew that her life would never be the same. The thing that she was wondering the most about was how the fire started. She knew it wasn’t the stove or oven, because her father didn’t like to cook, and he wouldn’t in the middle of the day. He mostly ate quick meals when he could because he was always working different hours, and called in at different times. So how did it start? She looked up through the small window of the police car. The California sun was so bright, and Hilary wished that it could just be a normal day. They arrived at the hospital that she had seen so many times to visit her father, and realized how terrible today had been.
She walked through the bright hallways, which had paintings and colorings spread everywhere. She walked into the room, not knowing what to expect. Her father was sitting on the bed, his face pallor. The nurse was finishing putting bandages around the bottom of his arms near his hands, where he got skin grafts, and covering contusions. His head peered up, and his face had a mixed expression. She quickly walked to him and sat down on the side of the bed.
“What happened?” Hilary asked trying to contain her curiosity.
“I’m trying to figure that out too Hilary. I was sitting in the den, and the fire just exploded and spread everywhere.” He pause and continued. “I have been thinking about how it started since I ran out of the house, and nothing me or you did started it.”
“What do you mean?” Hilary asked with a angry tone.
“ I think someone set the fire from the outside to try and hurt me. I am just glad they didn’t hurt you.”
They were both silent while sitting on the hospital bed. Hilary’s father than arose and spoke.
“ I have to sign a few papers, but then we can leave.”
“ Where will we go?” Hilary said unsure.
“Anywhere but here.” He said as he walked to the front desk.

Hilary was sitting in the cold hotel bed. She had nothing, and it seemed like a terrible nightmare that she couldn’t wake up from. She would always abhor the person who did this to her. Hilary’s father walked out from the square bathroom that smelled of clean towels and soap.
“I think I know who might have did this.” Hilary’s father said slowly. “ The police called and have a possible suspect now.”
“Who?” Hilary chirped
“ 5 years ago when I was working I had a patient who we thought had brain cancer. She turned out not having it, and I misdiagnosed her. She died, and it is irrevocable, but it was an accident and accidents happen in medicine.”
“Oh.” Said Hilary unsure of what to say.
“The suspect was her husband. He was depressed that he lost his wife, which I understand, but then it turned to anger towards me. I have gotten numerous letters from him over the years. I am afraid they burned down in the fire so if it was him, which I am leery it was, then that evidence is gone.”
Four months later Paul Breanen, the main suspect, was convicted. After the police found the gasoline which was disseminated to start the fire, and a perfect math of his shoe print he was arrested and later admitted to the crime. As for Hilary and her father their new home was constructed, and finished 14 months later. There lives changed forever, but they both learned to forget the past, and look towards the future.

2 Quarter Outside Reading Book

2nd Quarter Outside Reading Book Review Hannah Spring

At First Sight By Nicholas Sparks. Warner Books, 2005 Genre: Fiction

In the book At First Sight, by Nicholas Sparks, there are many points of high tension and excitement which keeps the readers interest. It takes place in the small town of Boone Creek, North Carolina, where the main character Jeremy Marsh is engaged to his pregnant wife Lexie. Throughout the book miscommunication and lies lead to trouble, but the strong couple works together to solve problems of the past and present. Their wedding follows, and some of the worst news of their lives, found in an ultrasound, then really tests their strength and love. Then, another shocking twist in the end of the book shows more messages about love; it is eternal, but can be found.

“Sheds light on the quirks couples discover in each other, and the frustration that can ensue …AT FIRST SIGHT delves deeper still- into the more serious realities of life and love. “ - New Bern Sun-Journal (NC)

Nicholas Sparks shows emotion and detail through the reader’s thoughts, sights, and actions. In his own writing style he does not always have to use dialogue to describe a scene or mood. Dialogue is mostly used in this book for the characters to communicate and figure out a problem, or discuss what is to come. At First Sight is very much alike some of his other pieces or writing; it takes a strong love strong and tangles it with a conflict, which reveals the intense feelings after the problem has concluded, or someone or something is gone. In At First Sight, the end of the book shows this very strongly, and mainly through the protagonists thoughts.

“ On their wedding day, the sun rose over a calm Atlantic Ocean, casting prisms of light across the water. A light mist lingered on the beach as Doris and Lexie cooked breakfast for the guests at the cottage.” Pg. 178.

I really enjoy reading Nicholas Sparks’ books, and he is one of my favorite authors. I own The Wedding, True Believer, and At First Sight, which are my favorite books by Sparks. In these particular books, Nicholas Sparks builds love stories which teach hidden meanings within the text that make you believe in what he’s saying. It takes thought, but is not that difficult to really understand what he is saying in his own kind of message.

Quarter Outside Reading Book Review

Quarter Outside Reading Book Review Hannah Spring

True Believer by Nicholas Sparks. Warner Books, 2005 Genre: Fiction

True Believer, written by Nicholas Sparks is a novel written about love, entwined with a scientific story. It takes place in Boone Creek, North Carolina, when Jeremy Marsh investigating ghost appearances, when he falls in love with the town physic’s daughter Lexie Darnell. He later has to make a big choice to either go back home to being an investigator reporter, the thing that ruined his first marriage, but the job he loves, or be with the one he loves.
“Sparks gives his readers another reason to believe.” The book reads along with, “A romantic confection that’s as light as air, smooth as silk, and gloriously sweet.”
The writing style in True Believer is very descriptive. The dialogue is very realistic and Nicholas Sparks does a good job of conveying the author. He shows the emotions very strongly through the characters like they are his own, especially through the main character Jeremy Marsh. Jeremy experiences something he had never expected, falling in love.
To me this book was very different from other literary works by Nicholas Sparks. Although it contained a love story, which all the books I have read by him do, it contained a different twist with the ghosts, plot and setting. But it still had a very good ending.
“Her voice was soft, almost a whisper, and he looked at her. He could see the reflection of the town lights flickering in her eyes.”(pg.322)
I like to read Nicholas Sparks’ books, and that is why I chose to read this book for my outside reading book. Every book that I have read of his always has a very good climax, or ending and leaves me glad I had read the book. I first started reading his books when I watch The Notebook, my favorite movie, which was based on the book he wrote. What I enjoy in his books is how he goes into such great detail when he is describing a characters emotion or something like the setting because it gives me, or any reader a very vivid description in their imagination. The author has affected me because his pieces of writing are so well written it encourages me to read more, or write more. The one thing that I didn’t really like was how he encorporated ghosts into the story, because I don’t believe in them, but either did the main character. This book was overall very good.