The first scene that I really found memorable was the one where Charlie goes to his first party. This is the first time in the book where Charlie really interacts with a bunch of people. He experiences new things and it starts to change him. He begins to break out of his shell and it is really entertaining. I love when he gets stoned, because it is so unscripted. It happens just like it would in real life. I think this scene is important because everyone starts to see Charlie for who he really is. They tell him he is a wallflower and they admire it.
The second scene I really like was when Charlie played “Rocky” in The Rocky Horror Picture Show. At this point in the book Charlie has really broken out of his shell. He is a completely different person. It amazing how he went from the “wallflower” to dancing on stage in a feather boa. I also like Charlie’s interaction with Sam in this scene. He really likes her and is excited about touching her, but he doesn’t want to make it “cheap”. It the first time he really expresses his sexuality and his desires for Sam. I think that he is really unique in the fact that even though he is aroused by Sam, his feeling for her don’t allow him to change who he really is at heart.
The significant moment in the book is when Charlie and Sam sit down to talk before she leaves for school and they start kissing. Sam tells Charlie that he needs to do things for himself. He needs to put his own desires in front of other peoples. This is so important because throughout the book Charlie is always putting other people’s feelings before his own. He needs to do what makes him happy. They start kissing and then Charlie stops. I think he realizes that he is not mentally ready for this to happen with Sam. He needs to figure out his own life before he can have any relationship with Sam. This is when his mental break down occurs. I think this is needed in order for him to move on with the rest of his life. He realizes what his Aunt Helen did and it’s an important step for him to move on with his life.
The end was really comforting. I liked that he could understand what happened and accept how it changed his life. Now that he has dealt with his past he can move on. He is free to feel “infinite”. I think that Charlie was ready to take on the world without the comfort of a “friend”. He has accepted himself and realizes his needs. He is stronger and can finally live for himself.
I think that this is a great book that everyone can relate to and I would definitely recommend it to another person. It is so real and explores so many of life's tough topics. The best part is that it is so easy to read. It's like having a conversation with another person. I think that makes this book a truly enjoyable read.
XOXO Avery
Monday, December 8, 2008
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Great Book
Dear Friend,
I recently just finished reading a book called The Perks of Being a Wallflower, by Stephen Chbosky. The book was different then any other book I have read and is perhaps one of the best because of that same reason. It deals with life,school,people,family,drugs and many other everyday life situations.
Some of my favorite scenes occur in the beginning off the book. My absolute favorite part is the reference to feeling "infinite" when they are going through the tunnel. The image of being free of worries,smiling and enjoying life is something that has to be a great feeling. When Charlie says he feels infinite it just shows how rare those moments are and also how rare they really are. One of my other favorite parts is when he starts to have his first crush. I just liked it because everyone goes through it and it is almost like the same experience that Charlie had. Crushes for the first time are always memories that last with everyone and it's nice to see things that we, the reader can relate to when reading this book.
One of the most important and obvious points in the book is when Charlie's sister has an abortion. It is a touchy subject and when it is mentioned it's one of the most important in the book. Charlie always has issues with his sister throughout the book, but when family is in need of help he is there. He realizes the struggle his sister faces going through an abortion and stands by her side with her. This is significant, because all of us have had moments where we are in dire need of help and family is always there by our sides.
I enjoyed this book a lot, because it felt like a true story and was a struggle for the whole novel. Charlie goes through a lot and although the book didn't end the way i thought it was going to it just made the book even more interesting. It gave me a lot of things that I could relate to.
I recently just finished reading a book called The Perks of Being a Wallflower, by Stephen Chbosky. The book was different then any other book I have read and is perhaps one of the best because of that same reason. It deals with life,school,people,family,drugs and many other everyday life situations.
Some of my favorite scenes occur in the beginning off the book. My absolute favorite part is the reference to feeling "infinite" when they are going through the tunnel. The image of being free of worries,smiling and enjoying life is something that has to be a great feeling. When Charlie says he feels infinite it just shows how rare those moments are and also how rare they really are. One of my other favorite parts is when he starts to have his first crush. I just liked it because everyone goes through it and it is almost like the same experience that Charlie had. Crushes for the first time are always memories that last with everyone and it's nice to see things that we, the reader can relate to when reading this book.
One of the most important and obvious points in the book is when Charlie's sister has an abortion. It is a touchy subject and when it is mentioned it's one of the most important in the book. Charlie always has issues with his sister throughout the book, but when family is in need of help he is there. He realizes the struggle his sister faces going through an abortion and stands by her side with her. This is significant, because all of us have had moments where we are in dire need of help and family is always there by our sides.
I enjoyed this book a lot, because it felt like a true story and was a struggle for the whole novel. Charlie goes through a lot and although the book didn't end the way i thought it was going to it just made the book even more interesting. It gave me a lot of things that I could relate to.
12/7/08
Dear Friend,
For my English class I was required to read The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky. This book is about a high school freshman going through his first year of school and all the challenges that school brings teenagers. He deals with drugs, friends, siblings, and even his sister’s abortion.
My two favorite scenes are in the beginning of the book and at the very end in the epilogue. The first scene is when he goes to his first high school party. This is one of my favorite parts of the book because I believe this to be a very exciting part in people’s high school experience. Also I can relate to this situation because his first high school party was very much like mine. Except I didn’t make use of the drugs that were available. This was also a funny scene because he takes drugs and gets his first high. But we also begin to learn the degree of his mental instability when, for the first time in the book, “everything starts spinning”. We don’t know what this means until the end of the book when he has his nervous breakdown. But he gets fairly close here and I myself was left questioning the term “spinning”. My favorite part of this book is in the epilogue when Sam and Brad pick up Charlie and take him through a ride in tunnel. When he stands up in the back of the truck when they are driving through the tunnel I put myself in his shoes and I felt completely free like I wasn’t even sitting down reading the book. I just forgot where I was for that moment and pictured myself moving through that tunnel not a care in the world, just enjoying the moment.
One of the most significant parts of the book was when he took his sister to the clinic to get her abortion. Even though him and his sister didn’t get along very well Charlie did the right thing by here and took his sister. This part of the book really put an emphasis on family and how important family is in hard times. Who knows what would have happened if Charlie’s sister had to talk to her mom and dad about her pregnancy. But Charlie was there for his sister and after this event they became closer for the rest of the book and remained close.
In my opinion the ending of the book was not what I expected. The way the book was shaping up I thought he was going to die or worse. But he ends up having a mental breakdown and has to recover in the hospital. But this is when you figure out what all the “spinning” means and this is also the same thing that happened when his aunt died, which he explains at the beginning of the book. All in all this entire book is a defiant read for you or anyone willing to set aside the time to read a book.
For my English class I was required to read The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky. This book is about a high school freshman going through his first year of school and all the challenges that school brings teenagers. He deals with drugs, friends, siblings, and even his sister’s abortion.
My two favorite scenes are in the beginning of the book and at the very end in the epilogue. The first scene is when he goes to his first high school party. This is one of my favorite parts of the book because I believe this to be a very exciting part in people’s high school experience. Also I can relate to this situation because his first high school party was very much like mine. Except I didn’t make use of the drugs that were available. This was also a funny scene because he takes drugs and gets his first high. But we also begin to learn the degree of his mental instability when, for the first time in the book, “everything starts spinning”. We don’t know what this means until the end of the book when he has his nervous breakdown. But he gets fairly close here and I myself was left questioning the term “spinning”. My favorite part of this book is in the epilogue when Sam and Brad pick up Charlie and take him through a ride in tunnel. When he stands up in the back of the truck when they are driving through the tunnel I put myself in his shoes and I felt completely free like I wasn’t even sitting down reading the book. I just forgot where I was for that moment and pictured myself moving through that tunnel not a care in the world, just enjoying the moment.
One of the most significant parts of the book was when he took his sister to the clinic to get her abortion. Even though him and his sister didn’t get along very well Charlie did the right thing by here and took his sister. This part of the book really put an emphasis on family and how important family is in hard times. Who knows what would have happened if Charlie’s sister had to talk to her mom and dad about her pregnancy. But Charlie was there for his sister and after this event they became closer for the rest of the book and remained close.
In my opinion the ending of the book was not what I expected. The way the book was shaping up I thought he was going to die or worse. But he ends up having a mental breakdown and has to recover in the hospital. But this is when you figure out what all the “spinning” means and this is also the same thing that happened when his aunt died, which he explains at the beginning of the book. All in all this entire book is a defiant read for you or anyone willing to set aside the time to read a book.
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Sorry everyone!
Sorry Drew there was supossed to be breaks in there but i guess i didn't do it right. There are four paragraphs though! Thanks
Dana
Dana
Last Blog
Dear everyone,
One scene that was really memorable to me was the one where the main character Charlie, is dared to kiss who he thinks is the prettiest girl in the room. Charlie is a very shy kid so it is cute when he has to do little things like this. What’s bad about this is that he has a “girlfriend” who is also in the room at this time. So instead of kissing his girlfriend, who he didn’t like too much in the first place, he kisses the one girl he truly thinks is the prettiest. What I like most about this section in the novel is that it helps the reader to get to know Charlie’s personality even better. Charlie doesn’t think about some of the things he does or says, which is what makes people think he is weird. He wanted to be honest with the people he was with, even though he didn’t think about how it would hurt them. I like this about Charlie and think it is a genuine quality in a person. Wanting not to hurt anyone reminds me of myself sometimes, but he didn’t think that just being honest would cause so much drama. Sometimes Charlie can be so clueless, which reminds me of myself as well.
Another scene that I enjoyed was when Charlie went to Bill’s house. I thought Bill was just a teacher who makes you do too much work, but he’s not. When Bill had Charlie over to his house I was a little hesitant about it. Charlie and Bill seemed more like friends during this scene more than they did anything else. Bill told Charlie how exceptional he was, and why he gave all those books to Charlie. I really enjoyed this scene because Charlie talked about how good he felt after Bill called him “special”. Charlie seemed like a very bright student the whole novel; however I thought Bill really helped let Charlie know he was. Bill reminds me of a teacher that I used to have, which is why I like him so much. Though I didn’t go to my teacher’s house or read other books on the side, my teacher really inspired me to look past the grade you get in a class and just value the learning you did. Bill helped to broaden Charlie’s mind, which is what a great teacher does.
The most memorable scene in this novel was when Charlie and his sister went to the clinic for her abortion. I thought that this was a very powerful scene where Charlie and his sister bonded. I loved how Charlie was there for his sister, even when he began to cry at the clinic. Charlie didn’t want to do anything to further upset his sister which showed that he cared about her even though they fight. When everything was finished at the clinic, Charlie’s sister still found a way to be a good older sibling and tell Charlie to stop smoking. I learned a lot of things from this scene. The bond between siblings is a very important thing to have and to cherish. I want to have that kind of bond with my brother, even if he is a 1,000 miles away. Also the whole abortion problem raised a few lessons as well. I saw the way her boyfriend acted when it came to her being pregnant and it helps me to think what I would do in a situation like that. I wonder if I would be as strong as Charlie’s sister seemed to be. Overall, the idea of an abortion lets me think about how careful I need to be in relationships and how to prevent certain things from happening.
After I finished the book of course I would recommend it to another reader. As a matter of fact, I already did. I enjoyed the layout of the novel and I thought that it was very easy to read. The ending was definitely a shock to me. I would have never guessed that the reason why Charlie acted the way he did was because he was molested. This came as even more of a shock when I found out that it was his Aunt that did it. Charlie loved his aunt more than anything, and he visited her grave whenever he was upset. I don’t understand how Charlie loved her so much when she was doing that to him, or how his aunt could do such a thing. A situation like this must be so hard to deal with, especially for Charlie’s mother. I’m disgusted with the way people can act in this world and how people could do the things they do. I think that the ending was a great way to end the novel, even if it did make me mad. I felt for Charlie and was upset that he acted the way he did because of his aunt. Of course I will read the book again, and I hope everyone else enjoyed it as much as I did.
Well this is my last blog. Thanks for a fun semester everyone.
Dana C
One scene that was really memorable to me was the one where the main character Charlie, is dared to kiss who he thinks is the prettiest girl in the room. Charlie is a very shy kid so it is cute when he has to do little things like this. What’s bad about this is that he has a “girlfriend” who is also in the room at this time. So instead of kissing his girlfriend, who he didn’t like too much in the first place, he kisses the one girl he truly thinks is the prettiest. What I like most about this section in the novel is that it helps the reader to get to know Charlie’s personality even better. Charlie doesn’t think about some of the things he does or says, which is what makes people think he is weird. He wanted to be honest with the people he was with, even though he didn’t think about how it would hurt them. I like this about Charlie and think it is a genuine quality in a person. Wanting not to hurt anyone reminds me of myself sometimes, but he didn’t think that just being honest would cause so much drama. Sometimes Charlie can be so clueless, which reminds me of myself as well.
After I finished the book of course I would recommend it to another reader. As a matter of fact, I already did. I enjoyed the layout of the novel and I thought that it was very easy to read. The ending was definitely a shock to me. I would have never guessed that the reason why Charlie acted the way he did was because he was molested. This came as even more of a shock when I found out that it was his Aunt that did it. Charlie loved his aunt more than anything, and he visited her grave whenever he was upset. I don’t understand how Charlie loved her so much when she was doing that to him, or how his aunt could do such a thing. A situation like this must be so hard to deal with, especially for Charlie’s mother. I’m disgusted with the way people can act in this world and how people could do the things they do. I think that the ending was a great way to end the novel, even if it did make me mad. I felt for Charlie and was upset that he acted the way he did because of his aunt. Of course I will read the book again, and I hope everyone else enjoyed it as much as I did.
Monday, December 1, 2008
Final Letter (Assignment)
Final Letter
Due: MONDAY 12/8 @ 8:30 a.m.
For this final letter, you can either:
-On your own blog, write a letter to your anonymous friend telling them about The Perks of Being a Wallflower. (You can tell them that you were required to read it for a class, but you don't have to.) Tell them what you liked, didn't like, etc., and be specific. Point out specific scenes and/or sentences that you liked or didn't (AT LEAST 2); Explain significant moments in the book and what you learned as a result (AT LEAST 1); And comment on the ending (either what happened to Charlie or who he was writing to all along or some other aspect of the final 20 or so pages). So, I'm expecting some sort of comment on the book as a whole (would you recommend it or not? Why?), explanation of at least 2 specific scenes or sentences that were memorable to you and why, explanation of at least 1 significant moment in the book and what you learned, and some sort of comment about the ending. If you're recommending the book to a friend, you probably won't want to be too explicit/revealing about the end, though that's up to you.
-On this main blog, talk to me or to your classmates about your thoughts/feelings about the book now that you've finished it. Follow the guidelines above. This option might be more attractive to some of you because you a) don't have to bother with the whole letter format, and because b) you can be more open about the ending.
I've asked you to do 4 different things for this response, so I'm expecting 4 paragraphs of appropriate length. At least 300 words.
Due: MONDAY 12/8 @ 8:30 a.m.
For this final letter, you can either:
-On your own blog, write a letter to your anonymous friend telling them about The Perks of Being a Wallflower. (You can tell them that you were required to read it for a class, but you don't have to.) Tell them what you liked, didn't like, etc., and be specific. Point out specific scenes and/or sentences that you liked or didn't (AT LEAST 2); Explain significant moments in the book and what you learned as a result (AT LEAST 1); And comment on the ending (either what happened to Charlie or who he was writing to all along or some other aspect of the final 20 or so pages). So, I'm expecting some sort of comment on the book as a whole (would you recommend it or not? Why?), explanation of at least 2 specific scenes or sentences that were memorable to you and why, explanation of at least 1 significant moment in the book and what you learned, and some sort of comment about the ending. If you're recommending the book to a friend, you probably won't want to be too explicit/revealing about the end, though that's up to you.
-On this main blog, talk to me or to your classmates about your thoughts/feelings about the book now that you've finished it. Follow the guidelines above. This option might be more attractive to some of you because you a) don't have to bother with the whole letter format, and because b) you can be more open about the ending.
I've asked you to do 4 different things for this response, so I'm expecting 4 paragraphs of appropriate length. At least 300 words.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
FIFTH LETTER (Assignment)
Fifth Letter
Due: 11/18 @ 8:30 a.m.
This letter has three parts
Part 1
Starting on page 103, Charlie is feeling great and says, "I try to remind myself when I feel great like this that there will be another terrible week coming someday, so I should store up as many great details as I can, so during the next terrible week, I can remember those details and believe that I'll feel great again. It doesn't work a lot, but I think it's very important to try."
If you do this, write about the time (or times) in your life when you felt great and why it was special enough to use during tough times -- what details do you store up and conjure when you're having a terrible day or week? If you don't do this, describe a time that would work (and that you might reference in the future).
Part 2
Starting on page 117, Charlie and his sister begin bonding over her pregnancy/abortion. Considering how much they seem to bicker throughout the book, it's a special moment for them. Have you and a family member/friend ever bonded like this over tragedy? Describe that time and what the significance was to you. If you'd rather not write about tragedy, describe a time when you and someone else bonded over a joyous occasion and what you learned from it.
Part 3
In earlier sections of the novel, Charlie dabbled in pot use and LCD, though those were both social uses. In Section 3, however, Charlie begins experimenting with both cigarettes and pot alone as a way of dealing with his own thoughts and feelings -- he shows clear signs of addictive behavior. Describe a time in your life when you experimented with something as a way of not dealing with something else. This doesn't have to be drugs, alcohol, or other chemicals/illegal substances -- it could be sleep, food, new friendships, a hobby...anything. Whatever you write about, make sure you're comfortable revealing it. In finishing, be sure to explain whether this experimentation was productive or not.
Due: 11/18 @ 8:30 a.m.
This letter has three parts
Part 1
Starting on page 103, Charlie is feeling great and says, "I try to remind myself when I feel great like this that there will be another terrible week coming someday, so I should store up as many great details as I can, so during the next terrible week, I can remember those details and believe that I'll feel great again. It doesn't work a lot, but I think it's very important to try."
If you do this, write about the time (or times) in your life when you felt great and why it was special enough to use during tough times -- what details do you store up and conjure when you're having a terrible day or week? If you don't do this, describe a time that would work (and that you might reference in the future).
Part 2
Starting on page 117, Charlie and his sister begin bonding over her pregnancy/abortion. Considering how much they seem to bicker throughout the book, it's a special moment for them. Have you and a family member/friend ever bonded like this over tragedy? Describe that time and what the significance was to you. If you'd rather not write about tragedy, describe a time when you and someone else bonded over a joyous occasion and what you learned from it.
Part 3
In earlier sections of the novel, Charlie dabbled in pot use and LCD, though those were both social uses. In Section 3, however, Charlie begins experimenting with both cigarettes and pot alone as a way of dealing with his own thoughts and feelings -- he shows clear signs of addictive behavior. Describe a time in your life when you experimented with something as a way of not dealing with something else. This doesn't have to be drugs, alcohol, or other chemicals/illegal substances -- it could be sleep, food, new friendships, a hobby...anything. Whatever you write about, make sure you're comfortable revealing it. In finishing, be sure to explain whether this experimentation was productive or not.
Monday, November 3, 2008
FOURTH LETTER (Assignment)
Fourth Letter
Due: 11/6 @ 8:30 a.m.
This letter has two parts.
Part 1
Using Charlie’s Secret Santa mix tape on pages 61-62 as inspiration, create the track listing for a mix CD/playlist that you would give to someone in your life right now. It can be the friend you’re writing to, though that’s not required. Requirements:
-Your compilation must have at least 10 songs, and the first and last song must be the same (like Charlie uses “Asleep” by the Smiths).
-It must have a title (Charlie’s is “One Winter.”)
-You must explain why the first and last songs are the same – why that song is the most important/meaningful/best song.
-You must finish up by explaining what you hope the recipient will experience when listening to it. Charlie says about Patrick: “I hope it’s the kind of second side that he can listen to whenever he drives alone and feel like he belongs to something whenever’s he sad.” Give your compilation a similar context.
Part 2
Beginning on page 82, as Charlie and his family are riding in their car on the way to see family for Christmas, Charlie subtly describes his family members in a way that reveals a lot about their character. For example:
-On 82, he says that, “My brother has a very full laugh.”
-On 83, he says that, “My sister rolls her eyes better than anyone.”
-On 84, he says that, “My mom and dad make a real team sometimes. It’s amazing to watch.”
-And on 85, about his grandma, he says that, “She always knew when someone was coming.”
For this part, describe 5 family members or friends in a short sentence much like Charlie does. Bullet/list format is sufficient.
Due: 11/6 @ 8:30 a.m.
This letter has two parts.
Part 1
Using Charlie’s Secret Santa mix tape on pages 61-62 as inspiration, create the track listing for a mix CD/playlist that you would give to someone in your life right now. It can be the friend you’re writing to, though that’s not required. Requirements:
-Your compilation must have at least 10 songs, and the first and last song must be the same (like Charlie uses “Asleep” by the Smiths).
-It must have a title (Charlie’s is “One Winter.”)
-You must explain why the first and last songs are the same – why that song is the most important/meaningful/best song.
-You must finish up by explaining what you hope the recipient will experience when listening to it. Charlie says about Patrick: “I hope it’s the kind of second side that he can listen to whenever he drives alone and feel like he belongs to something whenever’s he sad.” Give your compilation a similar context.
Part 2
Beginning on page 82, as Charlie and his family are riding in their car on the way to see family for Christmas, Charlie subtly describes his family members in a way that reveals a lot about their character. For example:
-On 82, he says that, “My brother has a very full laugh.”
-On 83, he says that, “My sister rolls her eyes better than anyone.”
-On 84, he says that, “My mom and dad make a real team sometimes. It’s amazing to watch.”
-And on 85, about his grandma, he says that, “She always knew when someone was coming.”
For this part, describe 5 family members or friends in a short sentence much like Charlie does. Bullet/list format is sufficient.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
THIRD LETTER (Assignment)
Third Letter
Due: 10/28 @ 8:30 a.m.
This letter should have 3 parts; you are required to do all 3.
Using Charlie’s description of Sam’s photograph on page 48 as inspiration, describe how beautiful something is without using the word ‘beautiful.’ So, lead into it, maybe, by writing “Have I ever told you how beautiful _______ is? It would be impossible to describe, but I’ll try.” And then do it. Charlie uses 46 words. You use whatever feels appropriate/necessary.
Charlie’s November 15 post (pages 50-53) describes how he feels people look happier in old photos, and then discusses the “glory days” in both a general and specific sense. He thinks his brother is probably living his glory days, that high-school football players scoring touchdowns are living theirs, that his dad lived his when he won the baseball championships, and that he may or may not be living his. Write about whether you’ve lived your “glory days” or not? How do you know? If you haven’t, explain how you know for sure, and then imagine what they will be like.
Using Charlie’s November 23 post as inspiration, start thinking about the upcoming holidays and tell your friend about your family. Charlie says he is “very interested and fascinated by how everyone loves each other but no on really likes each other” (56). Tell your friend something similar, beginning however you like (I can’t believe how/I’m always surprised when/I’m very fascinated by how). Then go on to describe a typical holiday scene, including details of a family member (as Charlie does with his grandfather). If you don’t spend much time with family over the holidays, then complete this section describing whatever it is you do.
Due: 10/28 @ 8:30 a.m.
This letter should have 3 parts; you are required to do all 3.
Using Charlie’s description of Sam’s photograph on page 48 as inspiration, describe how beautiful something is without using the word ‘beautiful.’ So, lead into it, maybe, by writing “Have I ever told you how beautiful _______ is? It would be impossible to describe, but I’ll try.” And then do it. Charlie uses 46 words. You use whatever feels appropriate/necessary.
Charlie’s November 15 post (pages 50-53) describes how he feels people look happier in old photos, and then discusses the “glory days” in both a general and specific sense. He thinks his brother is probably living his glory days, that high-school football players scoring touchdowns are living theirs, that his dad lived his when he won the baseball championships, and that he may or may not be living his. Write about whether you’ve lived your “glory days” or not? How do you know? If you haven’t, explain how you know for sure, and then imagine what they will be like.
Using Charlie’s November 23 post as inspiration, start thinking about the upcoming holidays and tell your friend about your family. Charlie says he is “very interested and fascinated by how everyone loves each other but no on really likes each other” (56). Tell your friend something similar, beginning however you like (I can’t believe how/I’m always surprised when/I’m very fascinated by how). Then go on to describe a typical holiday scene, including details of a family member (as Charlie does with his grandfather). If you don’t spend much time with family over the holidays, then complete this section describing whatever it is you do.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
SECOND LETTER (Assignment)
Second Letter
Due: 10/7 @ 8:30 a.m.
In this, your second, letter, tell your friend some stories about your family and your friends that helped you learn something(s) about life, love, and/or yourselves. Use as inspiration Charlie’s description of his family members on page 5 and what he learns about his Aunt Helen (which is still technically a mystery); the sister-boyfriend incident on page 11 where he learns about standing up to bullies; the heartwarming M*A*S*H* final-episode scene between pages 16-19 where he learns that his family has it better than most and that his dad cries; his conversation with Sam and Patrick on pages 21-23 where he learns about girls; his first real party on pages 34-38 where he learns what it means to be high and that others think of him as a wallflower (and what that means); and his car rides with Sam and Patrick on pages 33 and 38-39 where he learns what it means to feel infinite.
You are not required to emulate any of Charlie’s language specifically, though you are free to model his sentence structure if it helps you find your voice. Specifically, then, your assignment is to:
-Tell a family-related story/anecdote or give a family description that somehow leads to you understanding something you didn’t before. Tell the story; explain its significance.
-Tell a friend-related story/anecdote or give a description of your friend(s) (or you with your friend(s)) that somehow leads to you understanding something you didn’t before. Tell the story; explain its significance.
-Find the best way for you to work in your definition of what it means to feel infinite (the one we wrote in class). You could tack this onto the end of one of the above stories (if it’s relevant); you could tell a new story that relates; or you could simply admit to your friend that you’re reading a book for class that mentions it, and you wanted to share your definition and what it meant to you.
Unlike the first letter, this one needs to be a bit longer. No less than 150 words, probably more.
Review the requirements for all letters in the first prompt if you need to.
Due: 10/7 @ 8:30 a.m.
In this, your second, letter, tell your friend some stories about your family and your friends that helped you learn something(s) about life, love, and/or yourselves. Use as inspiration Charlie’s description of his family members on page 5 and what he learns about his Aunt Helen (which is still technically a mystery); the sister-boyfriend incident on page 11 where he learns about standing up to bullies; the heartwarming M*A*S*H* final-episode scene between pages 16-19 where he learns that his family has it better than most and that his dad cries; his conversation with Sam and Patrick on pages 21-23 where he learns about girls; his first real party on pages 34-38 where he learns what it means to be high and that others think of him as a wallflower (and what that means); and his car rides with Sam and Patrick on pages 33 and 38-39 where he learns what it means to feel infinite.
You are not required to emulate any of Charlie’s language specifically, though you are free to model his sentence structure if it helps you find your voice. Specifically, then, your assignment is to:
-Tell a family-related story/anecdote or give a family description that somehow leads to you understanding something you didn’t before. Tell the story; explain its significance.
-Tell a friend-related story/anecdote or give a description of your friend(s) (or you with your friend(s)) that somehow leads to you understanding something you didn’t before. Tell the story; explain its significance.
-Find the best way for you to work in your definition of what it means to feel infinite (the one we wrote in class). You could tack this onto the end of one of the above stories (if it’s relevant); you could tell a new story that relates; or you could simply admit to your friend that you’re reading a book for class that mentions it, and you wanted to share your definition and what it meant to you.
Unlike the first letter, this one needs to be a bit longer. No less than 150 words, probably more.
Review the requirements for all letters in the first prompt if you need to.
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Yes!
Enthusiasm about this letter-writing project! Yes!
A few notes, though:
-By my count, 2 of you STILL HAVEN'T CREATED BLOGS and sent me the link. This is no good. You must know who you are. Get this done!
-Make sure you post your letters to the blog you created, not to the team blog.
-If you don't follow the prompt, you won't get credit. At least one of you did not follow the prompt in any way.
-Feel free to use paragraph breaks in these letters. I guess you don't have to, but it might help separate your ideas and ease some of the stress on the eyes of your readers. If you're trying to use different paragraphs while posting and it shows up as one, you can always try the HTML code. I can't show you exactly here, because if I do, it will just give me a new paragraph. but you're going to use the left-facing triangle < then the letters br (stands for break), then the right-facing triangle >. No spaces between them. This will give you a break in your text.
-Consider reading some of your classmates' posts and leaving them comments below their posts. I think it will help everyone to know that someone besides me is reading.
Yes!
A few notes, though:
-By my count, 2 of you STILL HAVEN'T CREATED BLOGS and sent me the link. This is no good. You must know who you are. Get this done!
-Make sure you post your letters to the blog you created, not to the team blog.
-If you don't follow the prompt, you won't get credit. At least one of you did not follow the prompt in any way.
-Feel free to use paragraph breaks in these letters. I guess you don't have to, but it might help separate your ideas and ease some of the stress on the eyes of your readers. If you're trying to use different paragraphs while posting and it shows up as one, you can always try the HTML code. I can't show you exactly here, because if I do, it will just give me a new paragraph. but you're going to use the left-facing triangle < then the letters br (stands for break), then the right-facing triangle >. No spaces between them. This will give you a break in your text.
-Consider reading some of your classmates' posts and leaving them comments below their posts. I think it will help everyone to know that someone besides me is reading.
Yes!
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
I agree
I agree with Rain, I usually do not do this stuff, but I felt good after the first post. I think each one will get better and I can get to know my classmates better through doing this.
I like this
This whole blog thing was such a good idea. It feels really good to be able to share things that you otherwise would have just kept to yourself. I probably sound stupid, but i really like it.
Rain
Rain
Sunday, August 23, 1992
Favorite Lines
What are some of your favorite lines from the first section?
(PLEASE respond as a COMMENT -- Let's save posts for my prompts and your own original thoughts about the novel.)
Some of mine are:
"And I want you to know that I am both happy and sad and I'm still trying to figure out how that could be" (2).
"'Do you always think this much, Charlie?'
'Is that bad?' I just wanted someone to tell me the truth.
'Not necessarily. It's just that sometimes people use thought to not participate in life.'
'Is that bad?'
'Yes'" (24).
"'Charlie, we accept the love we think we deserve'" (24).
"And finally he found this really amazing song about this boy, and we all got quiet.
Sam tapped her hand on the steering wheel. Patrick held his hand outside the car and made air waves. And I just sat between them. After the song finished, I said something.
'I feel infinite.'
And Sam and Patrick looked at me like I said the greatest thing they ever heard. Because the song was that great and because we all really paid attention to it. Five minutes of a lifetime were truly spent, and we felt young in a good way. I have since bought the record, and I would tell you what it was, but truthfully, it's not the same unless you're driving to your first real party, and you're sitting in the middle seat of a pickup with two nice people when it starts to rain" (33).
"And in that moment, I swear we were infinite" (39).
(PLEASE respond as a COMMENT -- Let's save posts for my prompts and your own original thoughts about the novel.)
Some of mine are:
"And I want you to know that I am both happy and sad and I'm still trying to figure out how that could be" (2).
"'Do you always think this much, Charlie?'
'Is that bad?' I just wanted someone to tell me the truth.
'Not necessarily. It's just that sometimes people use thought to not participate in life.'
'Is that bad?'
'Yes'" (24).
"'Charlie, we accept the love we think we deserve'" (24).
"And finally he found this really amazing song about this boy, and we all got quiet.
Sam tapped her hand on the steering wheel. Patrick held his hand outside the car and made air waves. And I just sat between them. After the song finished, I said something.
'I feel infinite.'
And Sam and Patrick looked at me like I said the greatest thing they ever heard. Because the song was that great and because we all really paid attention to it. Five minutes of a lifetime were truly spent, and we felt young in a good way. I have since bought the record, and I would tell you what it was, but truthfully, it's not the same unless you're driving to your first real party, and you're sitting in the middle seat of a pickup with two nice people when it starts to rain" (33).
"And in that moment, I swear we were infinite" (39).
Monday, June 22, 1992
FIRST LETTER (Assignment)
Requirements for all letters:
- Put the date at the top of your letter.
- Begin “Dear friend,” and end with “Love always,” (or a similar salutation that you
use consistently) + your pseudonym.
- At least 100 words (though try to write more).
- Posted by 8 a.m. on date specified.
Keep these features in mind about Charlie’s writing and emulate them when appropriate: He is literal and regularly “reports” on his life; he writes how he talks and is very conversational (using a lot of second person – “you”); he jumps around a lot and goes on (connected) tangents; he almost always describes things in terms of how he feels (his emotions); he is randomly deep/philosophical.
FIRST LETTER
Due: 9/18
First, mirror Charlie’s first letter by writing these exact lines with your own content:
- “I am writing to you because ___________________. “
- “I just need to know that ________________.”
- “I think you of all people would understand that because _______________.”
- “So, this is my life. And I want you to know _________________.”
Then tell either a recent or past story that reveals something about your character.
End with “The reason I wrote this letter is because ________________.”
Your goal here (as in every post) is to use Charlie (what he says as well as how he says it) as inspiration for your own letters. As much as possible, make these letters sound natural. So, don’t just string those 4 statements above next to each other if it sounds awkward – work them into as real of a letter as possible.
You will all do so great. I just know it. Good luck figuring things out.
REMEMBER TO POST YOUR LETTERS ON YOUR OWN BLOGS!
- Put the date at the top of your letter.
- Begin “Dear friend,” and end with “Love always,” (or a similar salutation that you
use consistently) + your pseudonym.
- At least 100 words (though try to write more).
- Posted by 8 a.m. on date specified.
Keep these features in mind about Charlie’s writing and emulate them when appropriate: He is literal and regularly “reports” on his life; he writes how he talks and is very conversational (using a lot of second person – “you”); he jumps around a lot and goes on (connected) tangents; he almost always describes things in terms of how he feels (his emotions); he is randomly deep/philosophical.
FIRST LETTER
Due: 9/18
First, mirror Charlie’s first letter by writing these exact lines with your own content:
- “I am writing to you because ___________________. “
- “I just need to know that ________________.”
- “I think you of all people would understand that because _______________.”
- “So, this is my life. And I want you to know _________________.”
Then tell either a recent or past story that reveals something about your character.
End with “The reason I wrote this letter is because ________________.”
Your goal here (as in every post) is to use Charlie (what he says as well as how he says it) as inspiration for your own letters. As much as possible, make these letters sound natural. So, don’t just string those 4 statements above next to each other if it sounds awkward – work them into as real of a letter as possible.
You will all do so great. I just know it. Good luck figuring things out.
REMEMBER TO POST YOUR LETTERS ON YOUR OWN BLOGS!
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