понедельник, 17 декабря 2012 г.

Assessment

Individual reading with writing blogs is very useful idea. It develops your thinking, talent for writing, creative ability. At the same time it's quite difficult to write regulary, especially because a lot of people have a bad habit to put off  affairs, and I'm not exclusion. But If you do it for some time (write a blog), you will get into the way of doing it. When you just read a book, you can let pass some important moments, and when you write a  blog, you perforce think over different things, you can open for yourself new details, come to a conclusion about something in the book. The time you spend is really worthy of it!
I had a lot of different ideas for my blog, but unfortunately,  not every of them I made a reality.
But I have a very-very big list " Books I want and must read", so I can repair an omission.

As for others, I like Maria Sidorova and Alena Sergeeva's blogs.
Maria has funny ideas such as an inteview with main characters, she impartially appreciates the book and honestly writes what she likes and what she doesn't. Also I like the photo with her cat ;)

As I understood Alena's book is romantic and sentimental story about love,  but at the same time it's about War and it's quite serious and describes horrible events, so Alena's blog is serious, too. She wrote that she likes happy end in books, and it's a pitty for her that this book hasn't happy end. As for me, I can't express my attitude to ending, however, I want to notice that books with happy end are often primitive. I like unexpected events and unpredictable ending, when you finish reading and think "WOW"

When I was a child, a lot of books could give me such emotions, and I often couldn't sleep because it was unbearable interest what wiil be next in the book, so I even was reading under a blanket with electric torch in the night.

It's great when a book reserves to itself something, makes you think about different things and doesn't let you go out in your minds.


http://mashahigh1994.blogspot.ru/2012/12/a-few-words-about-words.html?showComment=1355866641805#c2351392918551766990
http://mashahigh1994.blogspot.ru/2012/12/the-cat-to-help-you.html#comment-form


Read books, and don't put off till tomorrow what you can do today.
Have a nice winter :)

суббота, 15 декабря 2012 г.

What I like/dislike in the book

Let's start from the good sides of the book, which is abundant:

First of all although it's written in quite simple language,  it has a lot of new useful words, which I'll try to remember.
The story of the book is close to our life, so when you read, you perceive and fully appreciate everything.
The main characters are the same teenagers like we are, so you can easy put yourself in their place
The events take place in our time, it helps for understanding, too.
Some parts of the book have reports from the news of TV or newspaper and it's written in official language, it makes you understand the structure of this type of language, in my opinion it's usuful for development of your languages skill.

Now I'd like to single out some negative sides:

In several parts of the book it was a bit boring to read it, because some Valerie's ideas and minds were repeated a lot of times, despite the fact that they are the same.
Some places in the book are too long-drawn
Sometimes you read and can't understand, what it is, the present time or the past. I know that it's such method, but in fact it makes you return back on several pages ago.

As you see, the quantity of good sides is more than negative, so at any rate I don't regret that I've chosen this book for my individual reading at all.



Possible ending

If we speak about possible ending of the story, of course it can be various, but the situation in the book is very serious, so the end can be tragical. Such stories happened in our real life, and unfortunately it not always has a happy end. I suppose, that Valerie couldn't stand such heavy pressure, loss of her boyfriend, tense relation with parents and classmates, misunderstanding from the direction of her friends and society. It's insufferable ordeal for young girl. She could commit suicide. It's really terrible and it's like a bad dream, but in fact it's not a dream, it's our life.

Interesting facts

 I have found some interesting information about the names of characters.
How did Jennifer Brown choose the names for her characters?
Valerie's last name is Leftman, because she was "left" to take to the rap for Nick's actions. Nick's last name is Levil, which is almost evil.
Angerson is angry kind of dude. Angela Dash is a reporter, just "dashing" off stories without double-checking her facts. Detective Panzella was named after an Italian bread salad (panzanella), because he was about as plain as a bowl full of day-old bread. And, of course, Dr. Hieler, pronounced "healer", is pretty self-explanatory. And she gave him the name Rex, because Rex means "King" in Latin, and Dr. Hieler's character is based on the "King" of Brown house, her housband, Scott.

пятница, 14 декабря 2012 г.

If I shot a film

If I decided to shoot a film based on this book, I would think over from what to start with. I think, I would start my film with the the shooting. Then I'd return characters back  into the past and would show Valerie and Nick's relation with each other and other pupils, also I'd show how Nick took into his head the idea about the murder.
Two plots would be developted in the same time. The first is events which took place before the shooting and the second one is after it. In that way audience would be able to deduce  succession of events and to sense Velerie's feeling. Also I think it's neccessary to show mutual relation with parents, because it plays a big role.


I don't know why, but when I was reading, I imagined Valerie as this actress, so I would like her to play main role in the film. It's Anna Sophia Robb. I think she is created to be Valerie!








 As for main male role, I would give it to Chez Starbuck. He would be great Nick Levil



For other roles I would make a casting.

In the end of the book Valerie turns over in her mind her possible future departure. In film I would make a scene where she would board a train and wave to her parents. From this moment the song would begin to sound. I exactly know what song it would be. Nickelback - "If Everyone Cared". I insistantly recommend you to listen to it. I know that this song helped the author to write this book. And I can say for sure that it passes emotions of the book.







Review of the book

 "Hate List gives us a glimpse into the lives of those kids in school who we may have excluded or made fun of or bullied, or who we knew were treated that way and we did nothing about it, for fear that we would get treated the same way. But it also shows us the other side; that those who do the excluding or the bullying have a lot more in common with their victims than they may realize. The hurt, the pain, the confusion, the need to fit in and belong - both sides feel the exact same things, but express them in very different ways.

Through Valerie's journey, we see a young girl who develops from a girl filled with pain and confusion into a girl with a new sense of purpose and determination, as she makes amends with those she hurt and finally learns to accept who she is.
An amazing first book by Jennifer Brown." - review by Maggi Normile

I completely agree with Maggi, in this book we can find those usual kids which we see in everyday life.  Such things as mockery, persecution took place quite often and in this book we see that people doing it have a lot of spirital wounds and often even underscore, so to cover it they start to humble others. I think it's large grave problem, not only in our country or only in USA, but in the whole world. Unfortunately, I don't know how to solve this problem, I think nobody knows for sure, after all, If it was simple, the problem would be solve long ago. However, I believe that good breeding has a great significance and influence.

Speculations about information gaps

 By the way, author doesn't describe what is  Valerie's school like. Is it big or small, how many storey, what about space around? When I read, it is clear in my mind. I imagine that it's three-storey building in brown-brick style. Around the school there are a lot of space with green grass and trees. May be it's smth like this:

Valerie and other pupils go to school by bus. Of course I conceive that yellow bus, which we always see in different films.

  What about house where Valerie lives? I think it's not big, but without a doubt it's two-storey building.
Under the window of Valerie's room there is a big tree, I think it's maple. 
  And what clothers she likes to wear? In that time it's nor important for her, she doesn't care about her appearance at all,  but I imagine that she wears checkered skirt and blouse, everything in light warm coloures.


четверг, 13 декабря 2012 г.

Valerie comes back

After some break, Valerie decides to try to go to school. Actually, she doesn't want to go at all, but it is her mother, who presses for it. From the first time she has met several classmates, who they were friends with before. And what do you think, are they still friends? I can't say it's so. For example, Stacey speaks with her in such way, as she wants to stop talking as soon as possible and to go to do her affairs. She even doesn't offer Valerie to sit down to breakfast together. The only one person who tries to help Valerie is Mrs. Tate, teacher. But even she can't understand Valerie's feeling completely. Other pupils look back at her, whisper to each other behind her back. Valerie is sunk in thought and she doesn't know what to do. The only  decission she can see is going back home last and all the time.

Passage from the text

" You've been on the list for a long time", - Nick said, and I immediately went cold because I couldn't believe he'd just told her about the list. That list was our secret. Just between us. And he'd blown it.
"What list?" she asked and then she looked down just slightly and her eyes grew big. She started to laugh, and I started to pull up onto my tiptoes to see what they were laughing at.
 And then there was the noise.
 It wasn't so much a noise in my ears as it was in my brain. It sounded like the whole world was shutting down on me. I screamed. I know it because I felt my mouth open and my vocal cords vibrate, but I heard nothing. I opened my eyes and reached out to grub Nick, bt he had moved to the side and instad I found myself looking at Christy, who had totally shocked look on her face. Her  mouth was open like she was going to say something, and her hands were both clutching her stomach. They were covered with blood.
 "Oh, my God!" somebody screamed. "Somebody! Help!"
//-//-//-//-//-//-//-//

So, now you know how everything was started. Christy has offened Valerie, and after that Valerie was happy when she has known  that Nick wants to interced for her. But she has't known what exactly he was going to do. Valerie thought he will just talk with Christy. However, everything went and turned tradigicaly.
It is obviously, that Nick had planned it long before. But why didn't he tell about his planes Valerie? And where did he take the gun? May be his friend Jeremy helped him with it, and he was afraid to tell the truth Valerie, you see, she  wouldn't permit it.

понедельник, 12 ноября 2012 г.

Words you should know to read

Grim: 
-looking or sounding very serious
-very bad, ugly, or unpleasant
(syn: cruel, dismal)
Spree:
-a short period of time when you do a lot of one activity, especially spending money or drinking alcohol
Alleged:
-to say that something is true or that someone has done something wrong, although it has not been proved
(syn: assert)
Shooting:
-a situation in which someone is injured or killed by a gun
Thigh:
-the top part of your leg, between your knee and your
(syn: hip)
Require:
-to need something
-if you are required to do or have something, a law or rule says you must do it or have it
(syn: need, demand; order, command)
Go anwry:
-if something goes awry, it does not happen in the way that was planned
- not in the correct position
Homicide:
-the crime of murder
Trigger:
-to make something happen very quickly, especially a series of events
-the part of a gun that you pull with your finger to fire it
To cheer:
-to shout as a way of showing happiness, praise, approval, or support of someone or something
(syn: applause, acclaim. plaudit)
To divulge:
-to give someone information that should be secret
Snooze:
-to sleep lightly for a short time
(syn: nap, sleep)
To yell:
-to shout or say something very loudly, especially because you are frightened, angry, or excited
To plead:
-to ask for something that you want very much, in a sincere and emotional way
(syn: begg)
Villain:
-the main bad character in a film, play, or story
(Syn: malefactor)
To blame:
-to say or think that someone or something is responsible for something bad
To mow:
-to kill large numbers of people at the same time, especially by shooting them, or driving to fast
-to cut grass using a machine
To lame:
-to make a person or animal unable to walk properly
(syn: cripple)
Dumb:
-stupid
-unable to speak, because you are angry, surprised, shocked etc
To hiss:
-to say something in a loud whisper
Tentative:
-not definite or certain, and may be changed later
-done without confidence
To reassure:
-to make someone feel calmer and less worried or frightened about a problem or situation:
Stubborn:
-determined not to change your mind, even when people think you are being unreasonable:
(syn: resolute)
Eternity:
-a period of time that seems very long because you are annoyed, anxious
-the whole of time without any end
To groan:
-to make a long deep sound because you are in pain, upset, or disappointed, or because something is very enjoyable
(syn: moan)
Precaution:
-something you do in order to prevent something dangerous or unpleasant from happening
To bustle:
-to move around quickly, looking very busy
To squint:
-to look at something with your eyes partly closed in order to see better
Laundry:
-clothes, sheets etc that need to be washed or have just been washed
To shrug:
-to raise and then lower your shoulders in order to show that you do not know something or do not care about something:
To slink:
-to move somewhere quietly and secretly, especially because you are afraid or ashamed
To torment:
-severe mental or physical suffering
(syn: vex, annoy)
Conspicuous:
-very easy to notice
To hobble:
-to walk with difficulty, especially because your legs or feet hurt
To fumble:
-to try to hold, move, or find something with your hands in an awkward way
To chuckle:
-to laugh quietly
Venomous:
-full of hatred or anger

суббота, 10 ноября 2012 г.

What happened at the beginning?

  Well, I've read some part of the book and now I can tell what happened there.
It was usual day in the Garvin High School. Everything was like the any other day. Students were gathering in school cafeteria for lunch. The shooting began very suddenly. It was real tragedy. Six students died and others were wounded. A certain Valerie Leftman shield other girl by herself or just fell on the shooter, but she was the last victim before Nick Levil, the shooter, turned the gun on himself. Then I learned that Valerie was a girlfriend of Nick. Hmm, it's strange. Everything is strange. Why had he shot? And why had he killed himself? Had Valerie known what he was going to do in that morning? Why had she jumped between Nick and other girl, Jessica?
  Valerie Leftman have kept her bed for one or two week yet, because her thigh wounded. But her mom insists on going back to school, because Valerie's doctor says that she can do it. However, Valerie can't go back. She is scared of facing all those people. Some of them think that she is a hero, others think she is a murderer. But actually, she doesn't know who she is. Some days she felt like both, some days she felt like neither. And she didn't try to save a life to Jessica when she jumped between her and Nick. This girl pestered Valerie.
  I think that her mom sooner or later will make her go to school. What will happen next? I have a lot of questions. I'll write answers down as soon as I'll know. 

понедельник, 24 сентября 2012 г.

Making Choice

Salut! :)
It's September of third half-year now and it means that it’s time to start individual reading. First of all I was to choose a book.  Have I made it with easy? Oh, really no.
From the beginning I wanted to read the book, which was brought by my friend from London as a gift for me. It is "Wuthering Heights" by Emily Jane Bronte.  Wouldn't it be pleasant to read it? Of course it would!  But there is a problem - I had read it in Russian several years ago. As I'd like to read something new for me, I went to the library. One book arrested my attention right away. It was Thalia Chaltas "Because I Am Furniture". When I was on first year in the uni, my friend from third year was reading this book. I had been interested in it, the book seemed unusual, so I had decided to read it someday. And what a great luck, it fell into my hands! But: despite the fact that it has near 400 pages, there is little quantity of the text. It's written in such way, that a lot of page has only several lines.
There is nothing to be done, I was to choose smth else. My attention was attracted by another book. "Hate list" by Jennifer Brown. I twirled it in my hands, and thought: why not?It's look like a sort of school stories, what is usually interesting. So, why not, really? I have made my choice. I hope I like it :)