SKELETON KEY

POINT BLANK by Anthony Horowitz

flying aces of world war 1

this book is medium diction example: the german armies were forced to retreat. This book is structured in chapters. When an old subject ends and a new subject starts, there's a chapter. It goes back and forth from German people to British people to French people. The main topic is flying aces and it all fits in because each chapter is about a French flyer or German flyer or British flyer who invented something or did something amazing in that time.

What is the What

What Is the What, by Dave Eggers, is a novel broken into chapters, as novels usually are. However, within each chapter are many stories. The book so far flips between the present action, in which Achak, the main character is being robbed, and his memories. The memories appear as shorter stories interrupting the present action. While the present action follows linear time, with one thing happening after the other, the memories are pulled up as things remind Achak of his past. Some of these memories are after he came to the United States, some are of the refugee camp he lived in for ten years, and some are of his early life in his village in southern Sudan. By dropping these crumbs of his life story piece by piece, the variety keeps the reader interested in the story and in suspense. One can read this story a little at a time, rather than having to dive into it.

The author also makes it an easy book to sink into by using a conversational diction. It is written in first person from Achak's point of view, as if he were telling the story to the reader. For example, in this account of a lion attacking a group of young boys, Eggers writes, "I remember the first boy who was taken. We were walking single file, as we always did, and Deng was holding my shirt from behind as he always did." There is little poetic language and few extra details. Eggers uses mostly simple, common words that are easy to understand. However, he reveals the origin of his character by occasionally using more formal words than found in every day diction. For example, he writes, "I do not know why she wants to call the police for a car in need of repair, but I consent....It does not make sense to me to leave the door open but I do so because she desires it." The words "consent" and "desires" are more formal than most English speakers would use commonly; by this word choice, the reader realizes that Achak has learned English and is not a native speaker. He also uses very few contractions. Achak says, "I am unwilling to agree," rather than "I'm unwilling," and "I tell her that I do have a phone," rather than "I tell her I do." He speaks very properly, without shortcuts, unlike many who grew up speaking English in the United States.

False Starts

There are lots of books out there, so I guess it shouldn't be such a surprise when I don't like a lot of them. After dropping The Land of Green Plums, I started a book by Paul Auster and Tempting Faith DiNapoli, by Lisa Gabriele. Both of them sounded promising--one is an account of a man who wakes up in a cell and can't remember who he is or what he's doing there, and the other is a not-too-sweet memoir of a Catholic childhood--but both became a chore to read. Maybe I was turned off by the suffering in the stories. However, the book I've currently settled on, What is the What by David Eggers, is about one of the Lost Boys of Sudan, certainly not a light story of good times. Maybe it's the stakes. In the books I dropped, the suffering seemed to be an internal dilemma of achieving happiness. In my current book, the suffering is escaping lions and militia men with machine guns. It's a lot easier to be gripped by stories of boys getting eaten by lions than by a girl facing 1950's social demands. Also, Eggers's writing is witty and quick, and the story jumps from the present day to reminisces of the main character's life in Sudan, so there are short anecdotes. However, right now, there are philosophical ramblings which are getting a bit long. When is a shark going to come along and eat somebody? When is somebody going to be thrown in a pit of rats?

An Abundance of Katherines

I just finished An Abundance of Katherines by John Green. As with two of his other books, Looking for Alaska and Paper Towns, it's told from the viewpoint of a high school boy and involves longing for a mysterious girl and a road trip. It feels a bit like junk food for the brain; it's an easy, quick read, always entertaining, and feeds the endless romantic in me, just as a popular movies do. There's some adventure in it, though not too wild to make it unbelievable. In other words, I could imagine myself in the story, which I enjoy. It also has little mysteries in it, which keep the story interesting. I realized this weekend, while at an art gallery, that I don't like things that tell too much. I prefer abstract paintings to realistic landscapes, and I like stories that suggest feelings rather than explaining everything. This book leaves out key bits that aren't wrapped up till the end. It also keeps moving. For example; during much of the book, the main character interviews old people in the town. Some of these interviews are detailed, but much of them are passed over, with the result that a boring summer job doesn't also bore the reader.
Incidentally, the author alludes to this in his own writing. "Authors never included the whole story; they just got to the point. Colin thought the truth should matter as much as the point, and he figured that was why he couldn't tell good stories." This book is full of crafted stories. The whole story ends at a certain point, rather than including what happens "happily ever after." Also, throughout the book, there are flashbacks which are shaped with a beginning, middle, and an end. I think that's why it's so appealing to read these sorts of novels; everything fits into a plot and has an end that makes sense, and so often our lives don't follow that structure.

Warriors

helen keller

this book is Farley detailed it tells you all about Helen when she was little

STORMBEAKER

IT by Stephen King

The Land of Green Plums

I just started reading _The Land of Green Plums_ by Herta Müller. I found this book on the "Staff Picks" shelf at the Fletcher Free Library. I have never heard of this author, but the synopsis on the inside front cover sounded interesting. It sounds like a deep story of loss and failure, a bit like _1984_, and I was in the mood for a depressing book like that.

However, I've started many books that had interesting plots but boring writing. The writing in this book is almost poetic. Literal and symbolic language is mixed, as is the present and memories. For example, the author writes, "The grass stands tall inside our heads. When we speak it gets mowed." At times I'm not sure if the action described is actually happening or only representing feelings. I'm curious to see if the author sustains this style through the entire book, or if it's only a form of prelude.

RANGER'S APPRENTICE

I'm nearly have done with Ranger's apprentice book 7 I only have 80 more pages. Now I'm at a interesting part full of action and adventure. I think one of the best parts about the book is you can never know whats coming next.

Keeping the moon

I just started reading this book called "Keeping the Moon" by Sarah Dessen. This author is one of my favorites because she loves to write. She loves to make things more interesting for the reader and elaborates on almost everything. Mrs. Baskette got me a book called "This Lullaby" by sarah dessen and I liked the book so i decided to read another one. So... I decided to read this one!!

number the stars

right now there smuggling people to a boat

RANGER'S APPRENTICE

I'm reading book 7 of Ranger's Apprentice so far its really good I just reached a sort of boring chapter its boring because the main characters are just sitting around negotiating and not doing anything but I think it will start getting interesting really soon. It is after the forth book because the writer left important part of the series out.

DRAGON QUEST

I am halfway done Dragon quest. What I like about this book is that it has adventures, battles, and mythical creatures. Dragon quest is a great book and if anyone likes fantasy stories, you should read this book.

THe tale of Despereaux

This book is starting to get very exiting. because Despereaux is getting thrown in. a Giant pit of rats right now.

Evil Genius by Catherine Jinks

I have finished Evil Genius. The end turned out different than I expected. This was definitely an interesting book and people should read it. I have recently become interested in human psychology, which is what this book was mostly about. I like books that are mostly about people with a higher IQ level than regular humans

Fifteen

The book I am reading is called "Fifteen" by Beverly Cleary. I like this book because it has humor and joy. It makes me worried in some parts but happy and joyfully in others. This book is made for the ages of 13-16 in my opinion. It talks about school, relationships, and friends. Its a good book to read in high school, (i think) because of what is has to say! If you want to know more, then read it!!

The Diary of A Young Girl - More Thoughts

I’m still reading The Diary of A Young Girl. Where I am, it’s 1944 now, and Anne has grown up quite a bit since first arriving in the Secret Annexe. She’s been in the same building with the same people for a year and three quarters of a year – straight. I’m surprised that she hasn’t gone crazy. The Van Daans (the other family hiding with them) have a son named Peter. Anne is a teenage girl, and Peter is a teenage boy, so it’s not much of a surprise that Anne and Peter have sort of become… more than friends. So there are a few pages straight about Peter, then a page or two about something else, than more about Peter! At times, she seems obsessed with Peter! She talks with him frequently.

However, she does talk about Annexe life as well. And there is something scary going on in the part I’m in the middle of. They are scared that they may have been found out. Someone broke into the building, and they think it may have been the police. It’s quite frightening to read, and sort of sad, too, because this may have been how they were found out. No one is sure just who reported the Franks, but it is possible that it was one of the people who broke in. However, judging from the length of the book, it’s not the end just yet. But it’s sickening to think that it may have been the beginning of the end.

DRAGON QUEST

I ma Almost half way done Dragon Quest. Kale and and others stayed at wizard fenworths castle for a few days and learned how to use magic. Kale finds out that she has a mother and they are going to rescue her.

number the stars

at the uncles house there is some people who come and Annemarie one of the kids got tolled by there uncial that they are smuggling Jews people to safety in Switzerland

The tale of Despereax

This book is starting to get boring. He is mostly walking around in the castle . and it is starting to get better. He is about to be thrown in a pit of rats.

Evil Genius by Catherine Jinks

In the book Cadel just found out that his father (evil dude trying to take over the world) is actually not his father but just some crazy genius dude in prison. Cadel is now trying to run away from the people of Axis and his real father. The cops have now found him and are taking him to to the station so he does not get discovered by Axis people. There is this one guy named Vadi who is part amphibian and part human, he has webbed fingers and toes, the coolest thing is he has gills.

CARTOON WORLD HISTORY

The cartoon world history book I'm reading is manly about Spanish and how they took over the Indies. And how they stole all the Aztecs gold and silver.

Anne Frank - The Diary of a Young Girl

I’m now reading The Diary Of A Young Girl by Anne Frank. If you haven’t read it, you’ll probably be forced to eventually. Anne’s family had to go into hiding during the Holocaust, so they stayed with another family in a place called the “Secret Annexe” from 1942 to 1944. It’s amazing how thoughtful a self-described “thirteen-year old schoolgirl” can be. (Imagine that – she was around my age when she was there and when she wrote all this.) What happens is that she’s a normal girl, living the good life, all the sudden the Germans come in and gradually take away their freedom, then things get so bad that the Jews have to go into hiding – or else the Nazis will get them and take them away to concentration camps. The Franks are being helped by non-Jewish friends of the family, who bring them food and supplies and try to keep the “Secret Annexe” secret.

As one can imagine, seven (later eight) people cooped up in a small space for two years will get into a lot of fights. Anne mentions these fights frequently. They’re usually between the Franks and the other family. And to add to that, there is the constant threat of discovery by the Nazis that keeps them under pressure.

One wonders what kinds of things Anne would have written in that diary if the Holocaust had never happened. I doubt that it would be very well-known – I mean, who wants to read some schoolgirl’s diary? Well, this schoolgirl’s diary has been called “a powerful reminder of the horrors of war and an eloquent testament to the human spirit.” (That was off this publication’s back cover, by the way.) Is it really all that?

I think so. For being written by a “thirteen-year old schoolgirl,” this is an amazing work.

Revenge of the Spellmans

My book is "Revenge of the Spellmans" by Lisa Lutz! I just finished it! Everything worked out. She was being blackmailed and someone found out her secret! Izzy's secret: " She was living in the basement of her brothers house." Rae stole Izzy's car and got arrested but was told if she didn't let her go then her secret would be revealed! Once she found out who was black mailing her she went to talk to them and moved back in with her parents and started back up in the family business. All in all, everything turned out to be the way it should be!

DRAGON QUEST

I am almost to the middle of Dragon quest. Kale, Toopka, and Regidor the dragon at wizard Fenworths castle. Fenworth and Dar are out fighting mordakleeps. kale and the other are trying to help wizard Fenwoth by performing water spells

number the stars

I like this book because it gives some information on what it is like to live during this time

TUCKET'S HOME

Tucket's home is the book that's one book after Tucket's ride in the end of Tucket's home MR.Tuckets friend dies and he finds his family and lives happily ever after.

The tale of Despereanux by Kate dicamillo

I just barely started this book. And it is good. there is some boring stuff. But it is good. The boring stuff is some times it dicribes him walking around.

Evil Genius by Catherine Jinks

The "bad guy" is revealed. I always wondered about the bad guy and just because he evil to the "good guy" he might think that what we consider evil he/she thinks is right. I'm nearing the end of this book and the good guy v.s bad guys scene is starting up. I've noticed in books and movies that at the second that you think the good guy is about to die or someone else is, all of a sudden something happens or something clicks in their heads. I think that is a big cliche and if I write stories I'll make sure the bad guys win. I think this is one of the most interesting books I've read and a good book to consider reading.

Pearls of Lutra

I’m almost done with Pearls of Lutra. I’m reading the climactic battle scene. I’m sure it will end well, but at least one of the good characters will die. That is how every Redwall book I have ever read ends. Wait - a good character (or two!) died already, around the middle of the book. However, many more bad characters have been slain. If one were to do a body count, the good guys have the upper hand – or in this case, paw. Just like in all the other Redwall books.

I think the reason for all these happy endings is because people, especially children, prefer happy endings. But actually, there is some tragedy in the Redwall books. For example, in Martin the Warrior, someone important dies. (I won’t say who, so as not to spoil the ending.) When good characters die in the series, they make a big deal about it. That’s probably because the good guys are always outnumbered, so when one of the “vermin” dies, that’s no big deal – there are plenty more. (Unless he/she was a leader of course, then the book makes a big deal about that.) But the reader’s sympathies are (usually) with the heroes and heroines of the story, so when one of them dies, that’s sad for the other protagonists - and the reader, too.

Evil Genius by Catherine Jinks

This books mane character is a boy named Cadel Piggot, he is thirteen years old and has an IQ of over 200. Evil Genius is interesting because it's focused around people that are very intelligent or have interesting powers like spontaneous combustion and so forth. Cadel is mostly interested in computers and math. He attends a school called Axis Institute. Some of the classes at Axis are Assassination, basic lying, and computer hacking.

DRAGON QUEST

I am almost half way done Dragon Quest. The main character is Kale and the Author is Donita K Paul. Along the way back to wizard Fenworths castle Kale and the other were attacked by giant poison spiders and Kale was hurt by the poison in her body. So Kale and the other rushed to the teleporting gates to wizard Fenworths castle to get her healed there.

Revenge of the spellmans

This book "Revenge of the Spellmans" by Lisa Lutz is a fictional book. This book makes me feel happy, and frightened. Happy, because she finally found a place to live, and is working. She is almost back in the Spellman investigations, but her parents still are not talking to her because of what she did. If you want to find out what she did you will have to read the book. It makes me sad because the place she is living is in her brothers basement. He doesn't know she is living there. I have no idea how she sneaks by the windows in the house and not get caught by her brother. Tis has been going on for about a month now. She had a dream that her brother called in the "*squad*" to get her out of his house, but luckily it was only a dream, for now.

Hiroshima

Hiroshima is about. when they bombed Hiroshima in japan with a atom bomb. the main charecters name is Sachi. I like this book to.

I finished Hard Times. I won’t tell what happens, in case you want to read it for yourself, but I will say that it wasn’t exactly a clear-cut happy or sad ending. I will say that it is a very thought-provoking read, and well recommended for those who enjoy stories set in the Industrial Revolution. Style-wise, it reminded me vaguely of Beyond the Western Sea, a 2-volume story by Avi that was set around the same time period. However, Beyond the Western Sea was a story about an Irish brother and sister who had to emigrate to America. Hard Times - the entire book - was set in England. The two told different stories, but both of them had a common thread – they each explored different societal problems of the time period.

After finishing Hard Times, it was actually not that hard to transition to a completely different sort of book – Pearls of Lutra, the ninth book in the Redwall series. Pearls of Lutra is much cheerier and “fun” than Hard Times. It’s also one of the most exciting Redwall books I’ve ever read, perhaps the most exciting. I recall that I was also really excited about Mattimeo (another Redwall book) and The Mysterious Benedict Society (completely different from the Redwall series, by a different author). These three books may be the most exciting books I’ve ever read.

DRAGON QUEST

I am starting to read my new book called dragon quest. The author is Donita K. Paul and the main character is Kale. Kale is now being trained at the hall with her friend Dar, but when they got news that the Meech egg hatched and the dragon's name in Regidor.

Star trek the next generation starfreet academy worfs firstadventure

I really like book because like it I really like it but I really dont know

star wars X-wing rogue squadron

some pilots are talking to a alien pilot named Ooryl. Ooryl talks in third person it is cool

Still More on Hard Times

Now, I’m on Part 3 of Hard Times. Part 2 ended with Mr. James Harthouse saying how much he loves Louisa. They agree to meet again at some time, but Louisa just runs home to her father’s house and has a major breakdown. For some reason, Mrs. Sparsit was watching what went on between Louisa and Harthouse. She had succeeded in whatever it was she was trying to do – sabotage Louisa’s marriage or something like that, I’m not quite sure.

So anyway, Louisa is at her father’s house, recovering, when Mr. Bounderby brings this woman named Rachael (who loves Stephen Blackpool) to her. Mr. Bounderby had just put up posters accusing Stephen (Blackpool, not the Stephen who is almost done Dragonspell!) of robbing the bank all over town, but Rachael wants to vindicate him. So she told Mr. Bounderby her version of the story. However, Mr. Bounderby wants to validate the story, so he came to Louisa (who met Rachael earlier, in Part One). Louisa confirmed the story. Stephen is supposed to come back and prove his innocence (but he hasn’t showed up yet), and that’s where I’m at right now.

Well, I’m glad I read through Part 2, so that I know what’s going on. It’s getting interesting again – I want to know what happens next! I’m on Stephen’s side, believing him to be innocent. Nowhere in the story did it say that he robbed the bank. I don’t think the story left “room” for him to do so. And he’s an honest man, anyway. But, that leaves this question…

Who robbed the bank, anyway?

star wars x-wing rogue squadron

some empirel officers are chatting

Star trek starfleet academy Worfs first adventure

I like star trek. becuse when I read it it feals like I am in a difarent world. And I like to get away from the real world some times.

_MR.TUCKET_

My opinion of MR.TUCKET is pretty good and I can't wait to finish it so I can read the next the next book in the series I like it because it has all the quality's that a book should have.

DRAGON SPELL

I am almost done Dragon Spell. The author is Donita K Paul an the main character is Kale. The group made it to Ristos strong hold and there was a landslide when all of them were sleeping. So kale got split up from the group. She was trap in a cave that looked like a maze.

IT by Stephen King

I am now on page 401. The book is kind of interesting, I'm reading about the past of the main characters. IT is a little boring but King started incorporating peoples experiences with the monster. I think this book is okay but I'm not saying anyone should read it (IT). If one does read IT I recommend skipping the first 200 pages. (no Josiah I didn't) This book has not really hooked me like some books do. This book makes me feel kind of bored but then something exiting flares up and I continue to read it. (and IT) Hopefully people will start hunting the monster and there will be more action, excitement, and IT creature total mad awesomeness. (sorry I just thought that sounded funny so I put it in there)

_BRIAN'S RETURN_

my opinion of Brian's Return was that is was one of the best GARY PAULSEN books I've ever red. It had action and adventure in it and I think that every one should at leased read part of it.

More on Hard Times

I’m in Part 2 of Hard Times. It’s getting slightly confusing. Part 2 is set a year after Part 1. Now, Louisa Gradgrind, Thomas Gradgrind’s oldest daughter, is married to Mr. Bounderby. Young Tom Gradgrind, Louisa’s little brother, has financial issues or something (I’m not quite sure. I said the book’s getting slightly confusing, remember?). So, okay, what do Mrs. Sparsit (Mr. Bounderby’s old housekeeper) and this new guy, Mr. James Harthouse, want? Well, I’m not sure, but I think Mrs. Sparsit wants influence over Mr. Bounderby, and Mr. Harthouse wants influence over Louisa? The bank was robbed, and Stephen Blackpool (who was fired, and is also an outcast among his fellow Hands) was suspected? What? Mrs. Gradgrind, Louisa’s mother, just died?! Huh?

I’m just going to keep reading, in the hope that the mist clears later on, and the book gets interesting later on. I want to hear more about the Coketown factories and the Gradgrind model school, not about people using each other as pawns in a confusing game of sorts, like in a soap opera. (Not to say it’s bad writing or that I dislike Dickens’ works, but I’m just not into watching relational issues in people’s lives.)

_BRIAN'S RETURN_

So far Brian's Return is very interesting Brian has bought a lot of equipment and is spending the night in a cabin waiting for morning so he can start his journey back to the wilderness.

Star trek the next generation starfleet academy Worfs first adventure

I just started this book and I think it is good sofar. Why I like this book is becuse I like star trek. And I needed a new book.And I like action packed stuff. Much beter than Talking and mystorys.

DRAGON SPELL

I am near the end of Dragon spell. The author is Donita K. Paul and the main character is Kale. Kale and the other meet wizard fenwork and they went over the plan to get the meech egg back from risto. Wizard fenwork helped Leetu bend get better when she was in a coma.

star wars X-wing rogue squadron

the captain Aril nunb from XO squadron is being transferred to rogue squadron

_BRIAN'S RETURN_

I am reading another book by Gary Paulsen this book is called BRIAN'S RETURN it's the next book in the hatchet series Brian he is tyring to figure out were he wants to live in the wilderness or in a city.

Revenge of the Spellmans

In the book "Revenge Of The Spellmans" by Lisa Lutz the are certain parts that make me feel sneaky, hungry, motivated, sleepy, and scared. Isabel Spellman and her family have a Investigation program. Isabel has to sneak around to find out DIRT on other people. Thats someone why it makes me feel sneaky. When ever they are eating something, they elaborate and explain every detail about what they are eating. Like the icing on the yellow cake is 3 inches thick, and tastes like vanilla with sprinkles. Now if you tell me you don't get hungry after you have a description like that, then you are crazy. Anyways, I fell motivated when everyone if up and moving and doing things but feel down, sad and not motivated when they are sick or sleeping or something like that. The scary parts in this book are when she is snooping around and getting information/dirt about people and she gets caught. Anyway if you want to know more just ask or read the book. It is the third book in the series. You will not understand whats going on if you don't read the first and second. They are pretty good.

Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass

For history, I had to read Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, written by Fredrick Douglass himself. He was born into slavery, but later escaped and joined the Abolitionist movement. He wrote this in 1845, I think. It is an exposé of the cruelity of slavery. It shows how the slaveholders tried to degrade and brainwash their slaves so that all they knew was work, happy, work some more, life is okay. They wanted the slaves to either not know of freedom or not want freedom. And they didn’t want their slaves to read. In the words of one of Douglass’s masters, quoted in the book, “A n---er should know nothing but to obey his master – to do as he is told to do. Learning will spoil the best n---er in the world.” (The book used the actual “word,” in its complete spelling.)

While not on the level of IT (the book Hunter is reading), this book does contain some gory details. These details are presented here not to scare the reader, but to accurately portray the evils of slavery. I cannot stand any sort of cruelity, as in I get furious reading about it. This reminds me of when I studied the Holocaust in seventh grade. Of course, the Holocaust didn’t last as long as slavery, but the object there was to exterminate people, while slavery was really about cheap labor. But I digress. Both were great evils, scars on humanity’s face – scars that still have yet to heal.

_THE NIGHT THE WHITE DEER DIED_

The Night The White Deer Died is still boring but it has got a little bit more interesting.

Hard Times by Charles Dickens

I am now reading Hard Times by Charles Dickens, of A Christmas Carol fame.

This book is an attack on both the cruelity of the Victorian factories and the learning institutions that destroyed the creativity, imagination, and fancies of the people in favor of “Facts.” Dickens was working in a factory at age twelve, so he knew these industries inside out. He also felt compassion for the victims of these factories – he had been there, he knew what it was like.

So far, the figure pinning this story together (as far as I have read) is Mr. Thomas Gradgrind, who runs a model school and is a friend of Mr. Josiah Bounderby, a wealthy industrialist. There is one character, Cecilia Jupe, called “Sissy,” who was the daughter of a circus clown, who is being cared for by Mr. Gradgrind after her father ran away. You see, she was once a fanciful little girl, growing up in a circus, but Mr. Gradgrid strongly and actively discourages fancy. The book has also told of some of the life of Stephen Blackpool, a worker (Hand, as they are called) in a factory owned by Bounderby. He has a problem. His wife is this nasty drunken woman, and he wishes to be free of her to marry this other woman, but he cannot afford that.

_THE NIGHT THE WHITE DEER DIED_

The Night The White Deer Died is still really boring although it has got more interesting.

RED WALL

Here is one of the charter's that i like from RED WALL. Adopt Mortimer.
He is the leader of RED WALL and very sympathetic.

amistad

in the book Amistad the slaves captured the ship and find a island

DRAGON SPELL

I am in the very end of reading Dragon Spell the author is Donita K Paul. the main character is Kale. Kale and the others rescued lettu bends with the help of the little creatures called Kimens. When the gang was escaping from risto's castle Kale saw six dragons coming near them and riding one was wulder.

IT by Stephen King

IT is really interesting now. I'm now on page 371. Instead of just boring facts King is actually writing about some thing "scary". The way King explains detail is interesting too. He writes about lots of blood and gore in his books. In a regular book the author would just say " he shot the monster three times in the chest " whereas King will tell all the nice details. (I will not mention the exact details)

A Closing Thought on Principles and Practice of Electronic Music

I am finished the book now, and I can honestly say that I learned so much from it. What is interesting is that it began on a rather abstract, philiosophical note, and then it went into technical, preceidural material, and then it ended whith abstract philiosophy, around where it started.

If I were to update the book, I would write it in a similar fashion, but I would omit the parts referring to obsolete technology, relegating them to little paragraphs (at most) in Chapter 10 – A Brief History of Electronic Music. I would also cover current technologies, and I would have at least a whole chapter on digital sound synthesis, not just a section about it. And instead of discussing tape recorders, I might talk about how to do the same things with a computer program.

I can honestly say that I comprehended most of what was written. I was a bit confused on a couple of things, but overall, I got the general idea. I would only suggest this book to those who are interested in both electronics and music, as most other people would have a hard time staying awake while reading it. In other words, it is most definitely not what I would call a “general interest” sort of book, one that many different types of people are able to understand and enjoy. It is for those who are both technical and artistic.

After reading this book, I think that I now know enough to get started in electronic music. I already had some knowledge of electronic sound synthesis, but not that much. I had a background in music, and I don’t think I learned much about music theory from reading this – I didn’t need to! What I needed to know was how to generate sounds with electronics – and that is what I got.

Red wall

Here is a dicription of cluny. from Redwall cluny is evil and wantes to take over all of Redwall. and strong and a strong leader.

star wars X-WING rogue squadron

corran spots a tie bomber squadron and destroys them with proton torpedo's

IT by Stephen King

I'm now on page 329. Being on page 329 kind of confuzled me, I had not checked what page I was on for a while. Anyway IT is kinda of disgusting. ( disgusting as in ' eww the mean clown thingy just ate a person " ) Well at least IT has gotten interesting. Before it was just about peoples lives, but now there is actually something happening. I made a shocking discovery IT is 1087 pages long. So IT should take a while to finish. I thought it's interesting that Stephen King takes things that some people are afraid of, like a clown and turns it into something even more frightening. I think that is a really good idea for writing horror stories.

_THE NIGHT THE WIHTE DEER DIED_

My opinion of The Night The White Deer Died is really boring because there is no action and it just goes on and on but I'm not that far in to it so it could get exciting.

Principles and Practice of Electronic Music - Yet Another Thought

As I approach the last couple of chapters in this book and leave the technical, procedural material behind, I am left with ideas on how to actually get started. I’m glad I decided to read this book, because I’ve learned so much from it. Although it’s about 35 years old, many of the components used today are virtually the same in function now as they were then (with a few exceptions, especially the tape recorder). The next chapters are about form and notation, and the history of electronic music, so there aren’t going to be many procedures from now on. I’m relieved.

The Mighty

The Mighty is by Rodman Philbrick. It is a great story i think because of its loss, shame, and thoughtfulness. This is a great book in my opinion. It makes me feel like a lot of friendship and helpfulness is useful. If you want to know what it is about read it because I'm not going to tell you. Well one little detail. Characters names are Freak, and Maxwell. If you read the story you will find out why this book is called The Mighty!

Red wall

Here are some characteristics of one of my favorite characters in Red wall.
Constance bager. she is strong and fearless and obedient and nice.

book

in my side of the mountain a lot of photographers came and news reporter he meets his brothers and dad

IT by Stephen King

IT has finally got interesting. The parts I said were boring were when he ( Stephen King of course ) was telling about the people in the book. Anyway now I'm at more interesting parts. This book is really descriptive and I think Stephen King adds in to much detail, or as I would call it " Bad Detail ". I don't think I will drop this book because the story is good, but I think it's a waste of reading time reading about " Bad Details ". Well I dont find this book creepy anymore because the first time some one got eaten by the IT creature I for some reason had a very good image of the creature ( probably because of all the " Bad Details " ).

_BRIAN'S WINTER_

Brian is twelve years old he was flying to his dad when the pilot had a hart attack and the plane went crashed in the northern woods of Canada and he has been there for over 9 months and winter is coming and he is not prepared he doesn't have warm clothing or good shelter it doesn't look like he will survive.

Principles and Practice of Electronic Music - Still More Thoughts

I finally made it through the lists of procedures, but now I’m reading about tape recorders. As I mentioned in an earlier post, this book is old, and in some ways obsolete. Who uses tape recorders? Especially reel-to-reel tape recorders – the kind this book goes into detail about. I think it’s interesting from a historical perspective, but I don’t think it will be of great use to me today. Modern computer software could probably do everything the tape recorder ever could – and it could do it quicker and more efficiently. But, like I said, it’s interesting to read about these things from a book that was written back when they were in use.

I have found myself wishing there were more diagrams, so I could see what is going on. There are times where I get a bit lost, thinking; “huh?” If I ever write a text like this, I should probably include plenty of diagrams.

The next chapter is about getting started in electronic music. I want to get started and do these things for myself. I think I might need to get a working soldering iron (my last two won’t cut it), get some plans, and get going!

Of course, I should actually read that chapter first, so I have a better understanding of what to do. And before reading that chapter, I want to finish this chapter.

DRAGON SPELL

I am halfway done DRAGON SPELL. The author is Donita K. Paul and the main character is Kale. Kale and Dar are on there way to save Lettu bends on Celisse the dragon. Lettu bends is captured at Risto's castle.

Red wall by brian jaques

Red wall is one of the best books i have ever read becuse it is exiting.
and becuse I like made up stuf so i can get out of the reall world some times.

book

A news paper reporter came to do a store on the boy in the woods and the news paper person is going to come back to the cat skull to visit him in spring

_RANGERS APPRENTICE_

Horace is riding to the planes of Uthal to tell the king that Molgaraths bridge has been destroyed. Will and Evanlyn have been captured and are being held captive bye the Skandians who are planing to take them back to Skandia and sell them as slaves but Molgarath are makeing sure that the skandians don't get away.

IT by Stephen King

I'm actually thinking about dropping this book because it's so boring. I think I will keep reading IT for a little longer in case it gets better. If it continues to be boring I will drop in one second flat. Nothing has been happening in a while and pretty much it feels like my brain is rotting out of my head. Anyway this book started out really good but then got boring after the 4th chapter. I have read other Stephen King books and they were not so bad.

Homework - Description from Book

In response to our assignment, here is a quote from Mossflower, the second installment in the Redwall series by Brian Jacques.I read this book last year, but I think I can still remember the mental image I got from this description.

“Martin was astonshed by the size of Lord Cayvear’s domain. Bat Mountpit was vast and impressive, with chasms, tunnels, streams, caves, waterfalls, and underground lakes. Lord Cayvear pointed out his tribe. Those not searching for Gonff were farming great areas of edible roots, mushrooms, and subterranean plants, while others fished the lakes.”

This description gave me visions of a vast cave with waterfalls and elevated pathways, and complex cave systems branching off from it. At the floorof the cave, I envision there to be mushrooms and various plants. For some reason, I may have imagined them to be iridescent, although I don’t recall the book saying that they were. However, the book does say elsewhere that there was a hole at the top, and a slim shaft of light shone down through it.

The funny thing about books is that they can be interpreted different ways by different people. You probably got a different mental image from that quote than I did. In my opinion, what books do is tell you what to imagine in the scene, not how to imagine it.

Principles and Practice of Electronic Music - Another Thought

In the book, I am currently going through these lists of procedures. You are told which modules you need, which modules you have to connect, what controls you will be using, and a description of what you’re doing. It does get somewhat repetitive, in that some of the procedures are fairly similar. I think these lists are better “doing” material than “reading” material. I think they were written as “how-tos,” in which you read the list while actually doing these things. These lists will probably come in handy later if I actually want to use any of these modules.

I know the book moves out of lists later on, so I won’t abandon it. I’m just going to keep going – I want to know how to do these things.

A scene from Jaws

" The fish jumped up out of the water its Skin shimmering with water and gleaming in the sun. Hoopers dead body lay limply in the fishes mouth." These two sentences I can just picture in my mind so well.

_RANGERS APPRENTICE_

Will,Horace and Evelyn have destroyed the bridge but Will and Evelyn have been captured by molgerath and his wargals Horace has escaped and is going to tell the king.

Redwall

Redwall is one of the best books I have red so far and if you like tawlking animal fantesy I recamend it.

book

In my side of the mountain the end of the book is not as good as the beginning when he did not no what to do plus the details are not as good

IT by Stephen King

Okay IT is the first book that I have ever found remotely creepy, not scary just creepy. Anyway I'm on page 26. This book is interesting because I actually feel like I'm there not just reading about people who have really freaky messed up things going on in their life. I found this book when I was trying to reach a different Stephen King book up on the top shelf. I needed to take this one out first because they were wedged on the shelf so tight that I could not get it ( not the book IT ) out. So i took this one out and saw on the cover the word IT. I had heard from Alden that IT was really freaky ( I've only seen part of the movie ) So I decided I'd read this instead. I'm now really exited about reading the first book that creeps me out. YAY!!!

redwall character mathias

Mathias is very clumsy and young every single time I read redwall he is olmost always triping on his big sandels.

homework

Eragon was fifteen, less than a year from manhood. dark eye-brows rested above his intense brown eyes. His clothes were worn from work. A hunting knife with a bone handle was sheathed at his belt, and a buckskin tube protected his yew bow from the mist.

_I can see the fight_

Halt's second shot dropped the left-hand wargal. Will fired at the one on the right and he realized instantly that he had misjudged the wargal's speed.The arrow hissed through the space where the wargal had been a second before.

Don't Judge a Book by Its Cover

But we do, both literally and metaphorically. Sometimes it works out (usually in the literal sense), and sometimes it doesn't (in the metaphorical). I am reading You Don't Love Me Yet by Jonathan Lethem. I ran across it in the discounted book section at Bear Pond Books. The title sounded offbeat, non-conventional, and the cover (which I don't really remember right now) grabbed my attention. I started to read the beginning, which is my way of seeing if I want to read a book, and put it on my "to find at the library list." How's this for an opening sentence? "They met at the museum to end it." A book that begins with the end of a relationship has potential. Sort of like beginning with the "happily ever after."

Part of what's keeping me hooked, besides the jaded hipness of the main characters (for reading is escapism into our dream worlds, after all), is the vivid descriptions. "She caught scent of his coffee pot, dregs charring to a shrill odor." I like the use of an auditory adjective, shrill, for an olfactory sensation, odor. Especially because burned coffee is most often described as bitter. Or this one, describing a trendy rooftop bar: "The Armpit's rooftop was like a three-dimensional magazine Lucinda browsed with her whole body." I'm not even sure what it means exactly, but it gives me the feeling of being in the presence of cooler-than-thouness (the book is set in L.A.), being the only removed observer, and being overcome with stimulation, as if all around you are models who know and adore each other and are in tune with the latest styles and successes.

This is what good writing does for me. It both puts into words what I've been thinking or suspecting and also gives me a new way to consider the world.

josiah

Principles and Practice of Electronic Music - My Thoughts

I’m currently reading Principles and Practice of Electronic Music by Gilbert Trythall, which is a non-fiction technical book, so it would be a bit difficult to give a “plot summary” of it. (As far as I know, most of you would probably not want one anyway.) I find it interesting because it combines two of my favorite things – electronics and music. Like I said, it is technical in nature, so you end up learning all these musical, acoustical, and electronic terms. These terms are in bold on the outer side of the page, a bit like the Cornell note-taking system, for those of you familiar with it. There are parts that confuse me a bit at first, but it helps that there are illustrations, so I can sort of see what’s going on. I can tell from the way it is written that it is probably a textbook of sorts, not something most people would read for fun, unless they were interested in the topic presented, which I am.

The copyright date is 1973, so it’s quite dated in some respects. (For example, it discusses phonograph cartriges and magnetic reel-to-reel tape recorders – neither of which are commonly used anymore.) However, there are parts that are still relevant to today – for example, it discusses capacitors, resistors, inductors, and other components that are still in use. But I think it’s interesting to read about older technologies, even if they’re obsolete. It’s interesting to see how they worked.

Being mostly technical, it’s largely short on abstract, ethereal ideas. However, the foreword (by no less than Robert A. Moog, a well-known authority on the subject) and the introduction do go into more philiosophical territory regarding the subject of music and aesthetics. However, from Chapter 1 to the point I’m at as I write this, it’s mostly concrete rules governing acoustics and electronics. It’s a bit strange to see these abstract, philiosophical ideas in the same book as all these concrete rules and formulas.

book

In my side of the mountain the boy’s dad comes to see him and metes the teacher and they get along good and after they left he made snow shoes and a mouse gets in his storage tree

DRAGON SPELL

I am in the middle of Dragon Spell the author of Dragon Spell is Donita K. Paul. The main character is Kale. Kale's first dragon hatch his name was Gymn, Gymn power was healing. Kale's friend Lettu was captured. Right now Kale is trying to save a dragon who is trapped in a barn with guards firing poison arrows at the dragon.

Curse of the Spellmans

In the book Curse of the Spellmans by Lisa Lutz, the last part about 50 pages was about her having to go to jail. Isabel Spellman has a friend that she doesn’t know his fun name. She thinks he is lying to her because of all the research she has done on him. Mr. Brown (so he tells us) has a house right down the road from where the Spellmans live. She went over to his house for dinner and saw that a door was locked and he wouldn’t tell her why? She snuck in that night and had her cell phone on vibrate so if Mr. Brown had returned home Isabel’s sister could call her to get out. All she found was files and more files and stuff. The next day the police came over to the Spellmans and arrested Isabel because Mr. Brown left that window open and had a video camera facing around the room. They told her that she had the right to remain silent and so she did. She had spent the last 12 hours of her life in a jail cell. What the funniest way to spend twelve hours. If you want to know what happens next, stay cued in or read the book yourself. It’s called Curse of the Spellmans but this is the second book in the series. There are three books in this series. I think parts of it are very odd but others are hilarious. I hope you enjoy this book and my sayings about them.

_RANGERS APPRENTICE_book two

in _RANGERS APPRENTICE_ book two Will and his best friend Horace and Evelyen are spying on the Wargals lord Molgraths evil minions which are capturing celts to build a bridge to help the Wargals get out and attack the army from the rear. If they do that all hope to win will be lost but not if Will Horace and Evelyen have anything to say about it.

Redwall

Redwall is good I think that is very very good and it makes me very very hungry when I read it I think Redwall is very exiting I think it is the most exiting book I have read so far

Jaws

I'm now in page 204. The reporter, Harry just found out alot of dirt about the mayor, Vaughan. Vaughan owes around 1-2 million dollars to the mafia. The only way Vaughan can get the money is by opening the beaches so people will rent houses in Amity for the summer. So Brody opens the beaches when Hooper ( shark expert ) tells him the chances of a shark being there are 1 in 100. Brody is still cautious about opening the beaches though so he posts cops all over the beaches. Another reason Brody opened the beaches was because Vaughan had been a freind before all this had happened so Brody felt bad for him so he agreed to open the beaches. After the meeting a person from the mafia comes to Brodys house when Brody's still at work. The man picks up the youngest sons, Seans cat and kills it. He leaves a note Saying "Be Subtle". I think if I was Brody I would be pretty ticked. First he fights with Vaughan who was a freind before all this. Second his family is being targeted by the mafia. It sound like this book is going to get pretty interesting soon so I'll update it as soon as I can. :)

Jaws

I'm on page now on 184. Right now the mayor, Larry Vaughan and other important people ( unamed ) are trying to force Brody too open the beaches. Brodys' friend Harry Meadows is trying to find out why the larry is trying to force Brody to open the beaches. He found out that Larry is president of a company that is related to one of the five biggest mafia's in the city. That is as far as I've gotten. This book is finnaly getting interesting. Hopefully something really exiting will happen soon.

NO MORE PLOT SUMMARY!

When you write about what you're reading, I don't want to know what happens in your book. If I want to know what's happening, I'll read the book myself. In fact, if you think about it, you're doing the author a disservice by paraphrasing his or her writing. Novels are more than just a good story. I do want to know why you like the book, why I might like the book, what you notice about the book, what you don't like about it, or how it compares to other things you've read. That's just a start. In the second paragraph of the instructions for the literature blog are a number of suggestions:

"In your postings tell what you felt when you read a book and why. Tell what you noticed about how the author wrote. Tell why you think he or she wrote this way. Tell what you liked and didn’t and why. Tell how you read a book and why. Tell what a book said and meant to you. Tell what it reminded you of—what other books or experiences from your own life. Tell what surprised you. Ask questions or for help."

For your next posting, pick two of these commands and follow them. Also, if you have not yet, read the post "Responding as Writers." When you despair that you have nothing to say, answer the questions posed in this post.

josiah