Thursday, December 20, 2007

Winter Break Blog

Hey everyone. I thought you guys might want to talk over the break or something, so I put this up just in case. There's no specific subject, just whatever you feel like talking about. Enjoy!

14 comments:

jordanh said...

Great idea Parker, I checked out The Promise from the library today, and I plan to read it on my four hour plane ride to Boston. I'll fill you guys in on connections, but I won't give away the end. i'll also be reading A Whole New Mind with you all, so keep your brains awake during the next few sleepy weeks! Happy holidays.
j

hannahl said...

I'm not quite sure what my winter break reading will be, I have to finish Cold Mountain first. If any of you need book recomendations, I love to suggest books. I have a huge collection so just post and I shall answer! Have a great break!

ParkerH said...

Jordan, I feel like I should know what The Promise is. Could you fill me in? Thanks.

jordanh said...

The Promise is the sequal(is that spelled right? i can never remember)to The Chosen by Chaim Potok.

hannahl said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
hannahl said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
hannahl said...

Hey, if anyone would like to dive into an intellectual conversation, I am in the mood. I just read TIME magazine's Person of the Year edition. Wow. They chose Vladimir Putin, but that is not what interested me. There was an article about J.K. Rowling (she snagged the #3 spot) and it was really interesting. It is so weird to think about how much those books have affected our society. If you mention Harry Potter, or reference it in discussion, everyone knows what you are talking about (even Dawnielle, who hasn't read them). It is fascinating to me how such a rebellious idea is linked to such a conformist way of writing. It is a classic hero's journey, and yet it has managed to make fundamentalists in every religion and minority mad. I think Harry Potter has a lot to do with challenging the system. She challenged so many systems with her book, among them, Christianity, what is fame, the target groups for books like hers, and how obsessed a normally sane individual can really become. She crossed so many lines and yet was so traditional. What do all you Harry Potter lovers think (especially you Molly, who must read this article)about Harry Potter challenging the system?

jordanh said...

I love Harry Potter, my Mom used to read it to me in bed when i was little. You could say that I grew with Harry because me and him are nearly the same age. I love the idea, and it is more proof that things that seem rebelious don't have to be in your head

ParkerH said...

Even though only Jordan and Hannah have blogged so far, I thought I'd put this up in ase someone read it after the fact. I got a book for Christmas called "The Book Of General Ignorance", written by John Lloyd and John Mitchinson. The book talks about general misconceptions that are very common. The very first question is, "What's the name of the tallest mountain in the world?" The answer is, not Mount Everest, but Mauna Kea, the highest mountain on the island of Hawaii. It goes on to talk about the difference of heigth, which Mount Everest wins, vs. tallness, which Mauna Kea wins. Anyways, I thought you guys might by intersted in it.

Ryad said...

I'll join. Harry Potter is deffinatly challenging the system. I think the reason it is so popular is because the characters are so easy to relate to. So the reader sees a person they connect to making a difference in their society. Maybe people think that they could be important too and that gives them confidence (and as we learned from Ms. Crosby, Hannah, confidence is key).

lesliel said...

I agree with Rya. Because of the connections people can make to their own lives with this book is incredible. One big reason I think Harry Potter books seem to challenge the system is because Rowling creates this world within our own. When tourists like my sister for example go to england and actually go to Kings Cross Station, she goes up to the barrier between 9 and 10 and sees if by leaning casually on it she just might slip through. People can beleive that this world exists because J K Rowling provides her own "proof" to why muggles can't find or see wizard structures or dont "remember" meeting wizards at all.

ParkerH said...

This is on CTS, but not Harry Potter. I saw National Treasure 2, and I realized afterward how often the characters, and the moviemakers, challenge the system. The characters do some "illegal" stuff quite often, but it is for the greater good. You know what I mean if you've seen the movie. Also, the moviemakers put in some very believable stuff, yet made it decently obvious that it was not true at the same time. That's not normal, or at least not very common. I can't explain it much, or I'd kind of spoil the movie. On another note, I'm happy more people checked the blog. =)

jordanh said...

Parker-
totally!!!!! First of all that movie was AWESOME, and you are right. Challenging the system is a constant in many movies, including National Treasure.
A side note that connects:
I took a lot of heat for reading a book entitled A Million Little Pieces by James Frey. It was revealed that portions of his memior were untrue and made up. I wanted to read it because I thought I would enjoy it anyway. (I did) He challenges the system of using AA (Alcoholic Anonymous) and uses his own methods to defeat his addiction to drugs and alcohol.

ANYWAYS
it seems like challenging the system is what makes a good story and it seems to be a constant theme in literature in general.

ryanm said...

to ALL!
even thought its not winter break, its a mini break. i encourage all of you to see my definition of a pointless blog, (not any of these!!!!!!! all of OUR blogs are very important and influencial mind you) dated Mon. Dec. 17, 2007!
have fun reading my blog of boredom.