Connecting with Romeo & Juliet

Throughout the play, Romeo and Juliet, I seem to be enjoying and reading regularly so far. This book is somewhat fun and especially different from Great Expectations. Also, I haven't found the need of Spark-notes this far. My favorite character within the play is Benvolio. I love his use of words and the way he's portrayed in the novel. He seems to be a helpful and peaceful with it comes to fighting and predicaments that others find themselves in. Benvolio is a close comrade to Romeo. In this relationship, he gives Romeo advice about his love life. I personally find a connection between Benvolio and me. His way is charming and has thoughtful things to say. All Benvolio's intentions seem to be pure and true.

When it comes to reading at home and discussing in class, I find it very helpful! It is giving me a better understanding for the assigned reading. The play is fun and drama filled, which is exactally what I like about it! For me its the kind of reading that is I can picture today, or with more modern characters. Overall, this is probably my favorite novel, in English all year!

Wrapping Up Great Expectations

             The theme that shines throughout the entire book is that materialistic pursuits lead to loss of identity and perspective. This whole book is about the hopes and dreams and where they take you. Dickens had this utmost desire to put forth his knowledge and possibly his personal experience. Perhaps to just write a book, but maybe more. To tell young people that selfish thoughts and haphazard aspirations can lead you to a place where you didn't intend to go. I never really thought this book meant anything to me, but as I write this I feel like I should be proactive to do something like Pip. Even thought he stumbled a lot and for a long time, he found himself in the end and isn't that what matters? Through the work that Dickens created many people most likely have changed their own ways to stop the unwanted destruction of there lives. I know that a lot of the time we haven't completely changed our lives but, there are ways to apply the overall message to your life. I think the theme and the intend message are completely different. The theme: Desires takes you to inadvertent extremes. The intended message: Don't let you petty wants and hopes get the best of you. Ultimately to achieve anything great, you must suffer first to understand the real growth made.

Great Expectations - Thoughts on Reading

Great Expectations is one of those books I would have never read out of  pure pleasure. The wording didn't make sense at most times. And a lot of the time I would find myself reading not knowing what was going on. I think because I read it in class, it wasn't enjoyable. I thought of it as an assignment, which is sad because I know the book had good morals and elements that were exciting and thought-provoking. The one that I did gain from reading Great Expectations, is a new and refreshing topic and genre. When I choose a book to read it usually falls into the category of Realistic Fiction, Romance, and especially Drama. It was nice to read something that made me think, something so different. Charles Dickens, isn't my favorite author and most likely won't ever be but I have earned a new respect for him and can now say I have read a book by him. He has phenomenal writing skills and adds thrills and suspense to his books. He did a great job on creating characters that were believable and not so believable (Miss Havisham). Of all the characters, Estella is my favorite. She is a beautiful girl, whose austere presence confuses people. This doesn't necessarily relate directly to me but, a majority of the time we judge people on how they look and talk but, not  really with what they put forth into the world.

I have to admit, some nights I didn't read. And other nights I read more than I needed too. My daily routine of reading started by me going to Sparknotes.com, where I would read a summary of the chapters, to get a general idea of what I was reading. From there I attempt to read the book. Some nights I lay in bed reading, while others included skipping pages and asking freinds "What happened in last night's reading?" or worst of all ... I sometimes had to re-reading the whole chapter...
Overall, the general idea of the book was conclusive and this story didn't help me grow but, I think through this year in English I've learned how to look for things, decipher words and the true meanings.