Name All the Animals by Alison Smith [Part 1]

Our class has recently started reading Name All the Animals by Alison Smith. The book so far seems slightly interesting. The whole beginning is based on Roy's death. I think the author drags on the death for too long. In my opinion, she needed to move along from the subject and kept going with the story. I feel that the scene where Roy's mother goes on the walk and she begins screaming for Roy to come back was distressing but was over exaggerated for me. Another thing about this grieving memoir, was that Alison is very set on the idea that Roy is coming back (and so are her parents). Alison hoards food for her lost brother, hides in the backyard fort they built together, and waits for him to return. She doesn't realize the reality - he's not coming back. I continue to read to see if Alison's emotions and thoughts change.

The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath

In the novel, The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath, the character Esther is introduced to the reader. Esther is a college student who lives in New York City and she working as an intern for a fashion magazine. I can tell by her personality that she is very worrisome about her surroundings. She thinks something is wrong with her. This catches my eyes because it makes me wonder why she is so worried about the simplest things. She worries about the fact that she cannot enjoy her job, her new clothes, or the parties she attends. You soon find out what Esther doesn't realize- most girls envy her. As the opening unravels, the author exposes Esther as she worries about the electrocution of the Rosenbergs. The Rosenbergs are a husband and wife who were convicted of spying for the Soviet Union and are eventually sentenced to death. Another thing that catch my eye was the type of person she tries to be. Her personality is ignorant and she seems to be a follower. She tries so hard to hang out with Doreen because she's beauitful and she ignores Betsey. One thing that surprised me was her rude action when she left Betsey hanging outside her door. I feel as if Esther doesn't care about the wrong she did. I'm curious as to what will happen next and what I will discover about Esther.

Unsettling America Poem Response

In the poem, "Mnemonic" by Li-Young Lee, I found it to be very powerful and heart warming. As the author discusses his relationship with his father, he recalls the memories he had with him. Memory is sweet, no matter what the cause or effect. The title is a great name for the poem because it depicts the whole theme of the poem. The word mnemonic refers to memory which connects to the general theme of the poem. One example would be when he was cold, his father gave him the blue sweater. That one sentence shows the memory of his father's compassion and the fervor with which his father cared for him. Another example is when he remembers when his father spanked him but only because he loved him. The common literary term used in the poem is metaphor. The metaphor about the earth being flat rather than round would express the difficulties he would have in his life if he didn't have his father in it. Because his father was in his life, his earth was round and he sees all things revealed as an adult. His memories were a purpose of his way of life.

Betsy Brown Further Thoughts

Reading even further into the book, I am still interested in the characters. The character that I would most like to spend time with is Betsey. She seems very down- to- earth and doesn't seem to care what other people think. She is herself.

The character that bothers me the most is Greer because he is always working and rarely helps out around the house. But on the other hand, I tend to dislike Jane too because it seems as if she puts most of the responsibilities on Betsey. Sometimes she just sits there and spends her time playing Solitaire instead of watching out for her kids. Jane also has favoritism towards Betsey. I think she has favoritism because Betsey is the oldest and she could take on the responsibility for the rest of her siblings. Her favoritism is taking advantage of Betsey (if this makes any sense). My opinion is that Jane likes Betsey because she is her "miracle child" as she states early on in the book.

I am anxious to keep reading and continue learning more about the protagonists.

Stressed?

Well, nowadays everything seems to be overwhelming and hard. Not only am I stressed over this class, I am also stressed over every other class. My head is going to explode! XD So much work, so little time. Urghh! It's not that the teachers give us homework, its how much they give us each night. The work from every class combined into one night is too much. Most teachers understand this concept, but others don't realize it. I mean I like school (never thought I would say that because I used to hate school) but I just wish the teachers were more understanding about our situations. Although there is a lot of work, what makes me like school are my friends. My friends are there to help me through my struggles in school and I love them and they know who they are! :) <3 <3 <3 (Special thanks to those who are close to me.)

I do tend to get distracted during this class and not get my work done and I know it's my own fault. I just.. I don't know. I can't keep my head focused and I wish for different methods of solving this problem. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated! Thanks. :)

Betsy Brown Thoughts

Today, we started a new book in class called Betsy Brown. The writing type really caught my eyes. Although many images are pictured, the writing at times, seems to be slang-like.

The characters are very typical in their actions, but at the same thing, I get an unusual vibe from the parents. One thing that has me wondering is why the children in the book call their parents (Jane and Greer) by their first names. From the context, I feel as if Betsy seems to be pressured to follow her parents' every command. It has a slow, but slightly intriguing beginning, so hopefully the book will be a good one.

The "Good Thief" by Hannah Tinti

In my opinion, The Good Thief by Hannah Tinti, the book depicts the theme of obligating religion, rights, and the determination of finding who you truly are.  I thought it to be very thought provoking, somewhat of a mystery needed to be solved. This is shown when Ren tries to find out about where he comes from. I have also noticed the descriptive imagery she writes about. Her details about the way Ren is beaten is very despondent. Her writing consists of using allusion, metaphor, and similar. I think that this is why the book was so appealing. 

I recommend this book to all readers, but mostly to those who are fans of mystery.

My Top 5 Haikus

1.) Starry night

blackened marshmallows,

a hiss of laughter.

2.) Cool breeze

flowers blossoming,

new life.

3.) Empty field

pools of mud,

a rainbow appears.

4.) Subtle spring rain

a young child
stares out the window.

5.) Damp leaves

children running

wet Autumn.

Haiku Guy Response

So, the assignment is to write about Haiku Guy, a novel that we have been reading in class. Haiku Guy is about a poet and student of Issa named Buck-Teeth. In the novel, he is traveling in Edo and is learning about life and other things along the way. He learns the concept of falling in and out of love. While in Edo, he takes in the thought of attending different school of Haiku to try to find new ways to expand his training. As his travels seize to an end, he learns the true meaning of being a poet.

I noticed that the written style was very descriptive- with many metaphors and similes. The novel was written in a blunt humorous manner. The tone of illusion is subtle and evasive. That's what kept me wanting to read and find out more. So I guess you could say I enjoyed it. It wasn't really the novel itself, it was more of the writing style used for it. I will be honest, if it wasn't written the way it is, then I probably would have out it on my "dislike list".

I would recommend this novel to friends because the storyline and writing is very provocative. Many people may get ideas for new writing topics.

He said, she said.

"He said this..." "...but she said that."

This is the number one thing that causes fights and drama- gossip. In our "teen world", that's all there is to it. No matter how hard you try to avoid it, it always happens. First one version of a story, then 2, then 3 versions of the story, then a whole bunch more. The worst part is, after it's all over- the fighting and arguing, they come to find that the story is not even the orginial story that started it all! This is something I cannot stand. When someone starts this kind of drama, then they have nothing better to do with their lives. As harsh as that sounds, it's true. If you are someone in this situation, just learn to ignore it. Don't let it get to you unless that person actually confronts you first about the situation before it turns into rumors. It may be true but it also may be as fake as the person who started.

Watch me.

There are people in this world who would do anything to try to bring you down. The thing is, you can't let them. They are just insecure about themselves. That's the only reason why those types of people try to talk down on you. Their mindset; if I can't succeed, then neither can you.

When someone does that, you've got to boost your confidence and prove those people wrong.  There's no words more powerful than the words that slip off your tongue with the authority and courage when you say, "Watch what I can do.  Just watch me." No one can stop you, unless you let them.

Sleepless Nights

Tired? Well I am. Haven't had a good sleep in a couple of days. Don't you just hate that feeling?  You come to school and you're sitting at your desk and you can't keep your eyes open? That's what I get for always staying up a couple of hours longer than what I had originally planned.  
You see. I get distracted very easily. I don't know why, but I do. Every little thing catches my attention. Say I'm writing a paper and I have to get it finished, I start to look around and find other things to do besides doing what I had originally planned. Then I end up staying up to finish that paper. I wake up the next morning feeling sleepy and useless. I need a new direction or something.. someone help??

I'm Bosnian. Say what?

As many of you may know, I am Bosnian. I was born here but my parents are from Mostar, Bosnia  and they have been teaching me about the culture since I was born. I speak Bosnian fluently and I know how to read and write it. What many of you may not know is Mostar, Bosnia has a brutal history.

Around April 1992, civil war struck out in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Many fled to escape the fear of their lives. Some of which were my family members. My mom and aunt took off to a refugee camp in Crotia, while my dad, uncle, and grandfather were placed in concentraton camps. The war continued for the next 3 years until 1995. Of course, at the time, my mom was pregnant with me and as the war seized my family came to the United States. Under welfare, my parents struggled with life. They had very little, and the very little they had, they gave to me. Down below is a short documentary about how life was during the war:



The most sacred landmark in Mostar was the Stari Most, meaning the "Old Bridge." During the war, it was destroyed until the last piece had fallen to the ground.

Thankfully, it was rebuilt in 2004.



Although Mostar suffered a great deal of genocide, it still stands as a city of beauty in the hearts of those who lived through it all.

I am very thankful and proud of where I come from. I love my family more than anything in the whole world. I might not always listen or do as they say, but I want my parents to know that they mean the world to me even though I don't show it all the time. 

So now when you ask what I am, I'm going to respond "I'm Bosnian," and when you say "what?", I'm gonna say "you heard me. I'm Bosnian."  

My Army Of One {By: Djana Sefo}

A recurrent image is a fragment of life.

In the midst of it, I stand.
The sorrow of soldiers rolls down my tongue and I taste the innocence.
Muffled bullet shots pierce through my ears.
Corpses of fallen soldiers surround me.
The wretched scent of purified blood looms through the blackened air.
Smoke twirls ahead irritating my features; my eyes, my nose. I grasp for breath.
My wife Nadia and daughter Luna worrying about my life in our NYC apartment shadows into my thoughts.
Sense of burned memories. In the midst of it, I stand.
“C’mon maggots, Getta move on it!” the commander’s eerie voice echoes through the field.
My hardened stone of imagination,
will not separate my confinement to this war.
These desires of disappearing in midair trampled through my anemic body.
I reminisce the momentum of my strength from Little Dave, he of whom I stare into the mirror, mesmerized.
I’ll never forget him to know where he’s gone and what lead him here.
My quivering fingers shape around the hands of the rifle in which I behold,
I’m ready to embrace the today’s risk upon my life.
“Kad nesto pocnes, uvijek zavrsi.” When you start something, always finish it.
As the night broadened with daylight, I listened to it say, it’s almost over.
We are set to go, me and my army of one.

Diversity

When you think of the United States, what do you see? Well maybe you're thinking it's the "Land of the Free" and all that other stuff that global textbooks teach us. Yeah, sure it is, but most importantly what makes the US the United States is the diversity within our nation. We take a look back and we'll see the segregation among our people before Martin Luther King Jr.'s life changing speech. But now when we take a look around, we see that we are all different in our own ways but together as one, we are just people.

People with different hair, different eyes, different skin color. People with different thoughts, different ideas, and different opinions. This is what we are. Without diversity, our world would be boring. Everyone acting the same, talking the same, and even looking the same would bore us to tears.

Never give up on who you are. Appreciate where you come from, no matter what anyone says. You are one of millions who make up this diverse nation. Just remember, "what lies before you and what lies behind you are nothing compared to what lies within you." :)

Looking into the Future...

So, my assignment was to write about the future. I really don't know what to say, unlike most people, but all I know is the future is a scary thing. The future as we all know cannot be controlled. We do not know what will happen, but we can predict. And sometimes our predictions get the best of us. We use our knowledge, ideas, and thoughts to try to figure out the future. Our imagination paints hundreds of pictures of what the future world will look like.

 As I look out into the future, I picture voice activated computers, robots, a program where you are able to touch and see the things that pop out of the screen, and much more. Considering that our technology currently in very advanced, who knows what kind of crazy things will occur in our future? Right? Just imagine. :) No one will really know. We just have to wait and see. The future awaits! 

10 Questions For People To Wonder About ?

1.) If you could have a paid vacation, where would you want to go and what would you want to explore?

2.) How do you feel right now?

3.) What's your biggest fear?

4.) What makes you happy deep down? And why?

5.) Everyone has a secret. What's yours?

6.) What's the biggest mistake you've ever made?

7.) If you could relive a certain moment in your life, what would it be?

8.) If you could travel back in time, would you change anything in your life? If yes, explain why.

9.) Have you had your first kiss yet?

10.) What's your biggest fantasy?

Callous Moon {By: Djana Sefo}

I’m thinking about a callous moon, 

its innocent glow, 

and its dark despair 

wavering in the center of a universe. 

In the murmur of silence 

the moon is nothing but 

cold time and space 

floating in reality.

Where that lovin' feeling go?

This picture caught my eyes. I gazed over and my imagination painted an image of young teenage love. From the looks of the picture, the girl is heartbroken and no matter how hard she tries to get over that one "guy," she can't. Teenage love is filled with deceit and drama. No matter what happens, a person gets hurt whether it be the guy or the girl. I know what it feels like because I have friends who are in relationships and I have been hurt myself. That feeling destroys your heart. No matter the situation, you may be able to forgive, but you'll never forget.
Here is to all those who struggle with young love. We all have the right to fall in love. But how do we know if we fall in love with the right person? Well, we don't. We have to risk love. When you love somebody you open yourself up to suffering... that's the sad truth. Maybe they'll break your heart, maybe you'll break theirs, you never know. That's the risk you're willing to take if you determined they're the one for you.
To me love is the feeling that tells you, you are willing to spend your whole life with that certain person. After all the stupid mistakes you made, and all the flaws you have you notice none of it matters when you truly love someone.
Teens nowadays believe that once they love someone, they always will. Or if they get into a fight or argument, it's the end of the world. What they don't realize, it's just the beginning.
So now, what do you do when you have been heart broken by that one person? And all that anger builds and builds inside of you so much until tears of regret roll down your face? You're scared to give up because you think if you give up and let go, you'll become weak and desperate for that person again. Well let me tell you something; giving up doesn't show that you are weak, it just means you are strong enough to finally let go.
Now you're thinking if everyone gave up on their love lives, there wouldn't be love. Well just remember life without love is no life at all.
No one falls in love by choice, it's by chance. No one stays in love by chance, it is by work. And no one falls out of love by chance, it is by choice. So it's your choice. You decide. A lot of pressure? I think yes, but that's the point. If you don't take your chances, you'll ask yourself where did that lovin' feeling go?

An Image

I look, I see, I watch

a mother in the streets

trying to provide for her kids.

The sight of bypassing strangers

creates hope and solidarity

for a possibility to leave this cruel life.

The mother wonders,

about the unencumbered distance beyond her.

She sits, cradling her baby.

A weary tear of innocence runs down her face,

the dark despair of silence is a burden.

The day darkens and the cast of light,

 reflects off the moon.

The mother lays on the cold cement,

watching the rings of stars circle above.

She closes her eyes, singing herself to sleep,

waiting for a peaceful life to grace her dreams.

The mother’s love brings strength

to take on a brand new day.

These images are works of Dorothea Lange. She expresses the grappling difficulties of desolation.

This poem was written beyond my imagination of devastation. The world should realize that there are still people beyond our measures who suffer and search for a way out.

My First Blog Entry :)

Hello to the world out there,

I have no idea what to say, because I always feel like I'm trapped inside my own mind, trying to find a way out leading me to stress. Yes, I am a Freshman in high school and although I wish to keep my grades up, my insecurity takes over. Currently, I am struggling in Creative Writing. Stupid, right?  Considering that is my major. Well, this marking period, I'm stepping up beyond the plate. No more procrastination. I plan to strive and work hard to raise my grades in this class. Hopefully, this blog helps me express my feelings, thoughts, and ideas.

Well see you next time. Bye :)