A Single Shard

I am glad that I finally got to start reading a book of my own selection (not one for class). I bought several chapter books a while back at a book sale - most of them honor books - for my future classroom; I selected one of these books to read. The one I selected was A Single Shard by Linda Sue Park. I had never read this book before, but it is a Newbery medal book. Therefore, I figured it had to be a great book. I just started reading it yesterday and have read around 90-100 minutes already. It is such a great book and makes me feel very thankful for everything I have in my life. This story begins with a young orphan boy named Tree-ear and his best friend/guardian Crane-man living under their bridge space. I found out that he was given the name Tree-ear because it is a mushroom that does not grow from a parent seed. Crane-man believed this would be a suitable name for the orphan that did not have a name when he was dropped off under the bridge at age 2. He was only supposed to be dropped off temporarily until the monks had gotten rid of their bout of fever, but Tree-ear refused to go with the monks when they came for him and clung to Crane-man's one good leg (the other is twisted and shriveled from birth). This made me feel deeply saddened yet good at the same time because I loved that Tree-ear decided to stay with Crane-man since he is a great guy who was dealt a bad deal of disasters in his life. Crane-man was once somewhat wealthy, but his family died off one by one, leaving him alone and unable to do work due to his handicap. Therefore, Crane-man had to sell everything one by one in order to survive, eventually his home as well. Still, Crane-man is always looking at the positives of life and never once glimpsing at the negatives. He is thankful and appreciative for everything he is blessed with in his life (which is not very much). Tree-ear learns much from Crane-man as well. He is constantly wondering if his actions would be what Crane-man would do. Back to the story... Tree-ear is awed by watching potters during their throwing of pots, especially an older man named Min. Min is one of the best potters in the village - if not one of the best in the country. Tree-ear decides to examine one of his creations and accidentally drops and breaks it when he is startled by Min. He begs to please be able to repay him, and Min allows him to work for him for nine days as his form of repayment. He has to do lots of the dirty work, such as chopping wood all day, gathering clay all day, etc. Once his nine days are up, however, Tree-ear wishes to continue serving Min since he feels that his life has meaning now. Min allows him to continue working for him without pay, but Tree-ear is enthused with the idea of serving such a master potter. He now receives food during mid-day from Min's wife and decides to hide half of his portion because he wants to be able to share the food with Crane-man at the end of the day (which is what Crane-man would do for him). I found this to be inspiring, thoughtful, unselfish, but still sad all at the same time. The entire time I read this book I cannot help but to feel sad for Tree-ear and Crane-man. They are great people who were just unfortunate with their life dealings. I feel that many people can learn from both of these characters' lives. Our world is too caught up in personal indulgence and selfishness (I am many times guilty of this as well). I just really love that these two poverty-stricken people do not beg or moan about anything; they feel gracious for every little thing they are given in life. I especially felt overwhelmed - both with joy and sadness - when Tree-ear discovers his bowl is now being completely refilled when he finds it at the end of the day under his rock. Min and his wife are great people and are helping him out vastly. Tree-ear longs to eat all his food at mid-day meal, but does not want to take advantage of these kind people. There are just too many great aspects to this book, and I am just getting started in it. I cannot wait to see what I will find out next.

The Crucible (3)

Well, I finished my book this week and read somewhere around 2 hours again. I had forgotten how the story ended or the climax of it all; I am pretty sure I didn't read the ending in high school (just skimmed it). Everyone was taken to court who was accused of witchcraft. If they did not admit to worshipping the Devil, they would then be put in jail and sentenced to hang. They were all innocent people and many of them were devout Christians; therefore, many of them would not under any circumstances admit to worshipping Satan. My favorite part during all this was how twisted and foolish the people of the court were during the trials. John Proctor openly admitted to the court that Abigail was a whore and a liar. The judges were furious about him making accusations about her, but Proctor lets everyone know that he "knows" her - meaning he has engaged certain inappropriate relations with her. The court then asked him if he is truly a lechur since they cannot believe this goodly man has a flaw to his demeanor. He fully admits he has ashamedly had relations with Abigail; she denies any of this. They bring in Goody Proctor for evidence of this and make her husband and Abigail face outwards. Since she cannot see her husband's face, Goody Proctor does not know how to respond to the questioning of her husband, so she protects his image and states that she did not believe he has ever committed adultery (even though she really knows he has). I thought this was very classy and courageous of Goody Proctor to not reveal her husband's flaws. I think she did the right thing by keeping matters like this private and between her husband and her. This was really dumb of the court to not understand that a good woman will not spoil her husband's character. Still, Proctor was sentenced for "lying" to the court about Abigail and many others as well. Three months went by that they were all in jail and Proctor was brought out for his hanging. They said that he could live if he openly admitted to worshipping the Devil. He admits to having dealings with the Devil since he will live (and his image is already flawed). Then they want him to admit that the people already hanged worshipped the Devil, too. However, Proctor stated they did not and that he will not bring harm to their respectable images for hanging as true Christians. I thought this was probably the best thing he could have done; he let everyone else know they were false and that God will judge them one day as well. It ends with the drums going off in the background and Proctor heading to his death.

The Crucible (2)

I was able to read 2 hours this week in The Crucible and things are getting crazy in the story. Rev. Hale got angered with Abigail while coming to see what was wrong with her cousin Betty (sick in bed). Rev. Parris exclaimed that the girls were dancing, which made Rev. Hale snap at Abigail and tell her that her cousin's life is at stake if she doesn't admit to her wrong-doing of conjuring the Devil. Abigail obviously didn't want the blame for all this, so she accused Tituba of conjuring the Devil. She then accuses Tituba of trying to force both Betty and her to drink the concoction that night; she goes on to put all the blame on Tituba. Abigail then accuses numerous people in the village of being seen with the Devil. Betty suddenly wakes up and joins in with several accusations of her own. This part was both funny and literally dumb because the people believed every word that these two immature GIRLS were professing. Everyone took their accusations to heart and believed that whoever the girls chose to be of witchcraft must obviously be part of the Devil. The story goes on to accuse about 14 people of witchcraft the first night and then some 39 more the very next day!! People were accusing their very own neighbors of witchcraft, such as one man who accused his neighbor woman of cursing him and killing a pig of his 4 weeks after he bought it from her. Goody Putnam accused someone of cursing her babies that died, and Abigail accused Goody Proctor of witchcraft even. She did this obviously because she felt she could have John Proctor all to herself if Goody Putnam were hanged. It was ridiculous how Goody Putnam got accused; they claimed that a needle in a poppet was all the evidence they needed to put her away. Abigail had been found with a needle in her stomach, which I believe she stabbed into her own stomach to set-up the malicious scheme. It's just all crazy and ridiculous everything being done in the town and nobody having the power to stop this nonsense. Everybody feels that Abigail "KNOWS" something they do not since she claims she can feel the dark powers around her and knows who is bringing them forth. I get a little bewildered sometimes by some of the actions and accusations, but it is very interesting to see how each person is accused and how simple it is to put them away for it. I can't wait to see what John Proctor is going to do next in the court...

The Crucible

I started my second book for Responsibilities for the Future. The Crucible, a book written by Arthur Miller, takes place in 1692 when people accused others of witchcraft and black magic. I read this story I think in my junior English class; therefore, I kind of already know what to expect. It is more interesting to read now because I do not think I payed very close attention to it the first time for some reason. I have read for 90-100 minutes this week while I was on the airplane, but I was still able to get through a lot of important information. It was kind of interesting to read some of the introduction (although it's very long) since it gives you a better sense of what was actually true, altered a bit, why, etc. regarding the story. I must admit, however, that I did not thoroughly read the introduction because it began to bore me. The beginning of the story takes place with Rev. Parris' daughter sick in bed with him by her side. I don't really like Rev. Parris because he seems arrogant and self-centered. He's one of those people that think people owe him something because he's "better" than everyone else. Betty (his daughter) is in bed and many people come to the room to see how she is including the following: Abigail (Rev. Parris' niece), Tituba (Parris' servant), Susanna, Mr. and Mrs. Putnam, Mercy (Putnam's servant), John Proctor (rebellious farmer), Mary Warren (Proctor's servant), Giles Corey, and Rebecca Nurse. The Putnams say that their daughter is ail in the same way that Betty is and that somebody is cursing them with witchcraft. A bit of a side note here is that Mrs. Putnam had to bury 8 of her 9 babies, so she is bit hysterical about her only child "deathly" ill. The whole community is frantic and gathered outside, so Rev. Parris decides to read them all psalms from the Bible (the only thing they can reference from). I think this shows that the community is somewhat naive and unrealistic, but I also respect them for their strong faith and beliefs in the Bible. While Rev. Parris and the Putnams go outside, Abigail shakes Betty to quit "sporting" with her since she knows nothing can be wrong with her. Mary Warren and Mercy are the ones who eventually let spill that Abigail drank blood during their dancing ritual in the woods that Rev. Parris caught them doing; this is when Betty fainted. Abigail drank blood to cast a spell on John Proctor's wife to make her die since she longs to be with her love who had been slipping around on his wife and having relations with Abigail. I can't stand John Proctor either because he reminds me of a teacher/coach I once had in high school. He thinks he's all that and a bag of chips and thinks he can run around on his wife with the girls half his age. Also, he believes himself to be truly "Christian" and a man of Christ. I guess I shouldn't be this harsh, but his cocky demeanor annoys me quite a bit. I even picture him in my head EXACTLY looking like this teacher/coach I once had. And Abigail... she's just a dumb and insecure girl that is longing for someone to love her. I don't think she means anything by it, but she is still in the wrong trying to carry out an affair with a married man. I'm at the part when it's beginning to get heated between John Proctor and Rev. Parris. It's quite funny because John lets Parris know exactly what he thinks about him, which is a true sin to speak about him in this manner within the community (even though most the community may agree with John). I guess I will see how this arguement pans out.