Blog Response #5
With the introduction of the new novel, share in your blog what attracted you to this novel. What is the primary focus in your novel, and how are the main character or characters handling this situation? After reading the first few chapters, what are your initial thoughts about the book? Slow start? Jumps right in? Share your first impressions.
The thing that attracted me to The Kite Runner was the relationship that the friends have and how they are able to stay friends through everything they go through. The primary focus in this book is two kids living in Afghanistan and go through things that many kids at a young age do not. All the characters handle it differently it just depends on their age. Such as Amir who likes to focus more on writing and reading poets, and his father who likes to focus on work. It was a slow start but after the boys heard a noise that is when things began to pick up. I was lost when I first began to read since the author was jumping between one thing to another.
ReplyDeleteI was also lost in the beginning when Hosseini was jumping between topics and time periods, but I am glad that the book did this, because it gave me a lot of backstory and character development.
DeleteI was also lost at the beginning because it seemed like characters were just being thrown at you but after you get them figured out and makes a lot of sense and i am glad i got this book!
DeleteI was attracted to "I am Malala" because the story focuses on a teenage girl, so I thought the book might be slightly relatable. So far, there has not been any situations Malala had to handle, as the book is starting off slow and explaining past events. The beginning of the book mentioned how Malala got shot by the Taliban, but the chapters following all explain Malala's father's past. So far, I am enjoying the book, but wish it did not start off as slow.
ReplyDeleteI also wish the book wasn't so slow to start, but I'm interested to see what happens next.
DeleteI am reading The Kite Runner and it also is a slow start. I am Malala interested me to because of what she goes through, but I read it in the past so I could not read it again.
Deletei feel like the book a long way gone would relate a lot to this book because they are both about teenagers dealing with war and have a lot of things to ovwewrcome
DeleteI think along way gone attracted me because it is a story about how a young boy has to make life or death decisions to keep alive. i feel like the main character Ishmael when he was a boy did what he needed to do to survive. but now that he is older i feel like he is regretting what he did. I like the book so far and it feel like he jumps right into the story and he is talking about some crazy things he had to go through.
ReplyDeleteWhat are some of the crazy things that have happen to him in his life? Do you think it will change him as a character in the book, or do you think it is just a part of life for him?
Deleteit will be interesting to hear the rest of the story and see how each decision impacted him differently
Deletei also agree that Ishmaul jumps right into his life and does not leave any details out it makes it very interesting and easy to follow and a good book.
DeleteIn Night a lot of things attracted me to this book. Such as the connection with history and how it is a true story about surviving against all odds. The primary focus so far is leading up to how the Jews were captured in their own countries. So far Elie and his family are not feeling like this is a bad situation but their opinions are starting to change after the Germans made them move into the ghettos. So far this book is moving pretty slow but I believe that it will pickup the pace based on what I last read.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you about how the characters don't think anything bad is going to happen as the start to understand what is happening the are getting more scared and they don't know what to do.
DeleteI agree that I did pick this novel because of the history be hide it. and what we already know about it makes it better to hear about one persons experience.
DeleteI chose this book for the history and the true stories as well. I thought it would be interesting to her this one mans story.
DeleteThis was another thing that attracted me to my book, learning about history and all that because I don’t really know much about Africa since we never got taught anything about the continent.
Deletei wanted this book as my first choice but did not get it. after hearing what you read it sounds just like i thought. a little slow but the best part to me is that i would know whats happening from history class and understand the book very well.
Deletei am reading Thousand splendid suns. the main character is a teenage girl named Mariam who lives with her mother and her dad has an other family and her mother is mean to her and her dad does not want others to know that he another child with a woman that is not is his wife. i like the book so far but the mother is very mean. it is kind of confusing the relationships between people but the straighten out more i read.
ReplyDeleteDid your book jump right into the story or was it a slow start? I read A long Way Gone and it jumped right into the story which my book is a lot about survival.
DeleteSo far I also think the book is confusing. Trying to remember who the characters are and what their roles are is hard. I'm hoping something comes out good for Mariam because she has been treated poorly so far.
Deletei am reading the same book ands it is certainly confusing in some parts.
DeleteI received Night by Elie Wiesel. This was my number one book that I wanted to read because I actually have gone to the Holocaust Museum in D.C. The start of the book has been very interesting and has gone into detail very well with every event. I think this book can be a real eye opener to someone that may not know much about the Holocaust. Night moves rather quickly through events in the book but with as much detail it gives it makes up for the fast pace.
ReplyDeleteI agree with this book going into much detail, but i believe that the book has gone slowly through the first 20 pages.
DeleteVery interesting that you have been to the Holocaust Museum. I too enjoy history and this is why I chose this book.
DeleteI agree that the book moves quickly but I thought that the book had a slow start and it is just now starting to pick up. I also choose this book because I find the Holocaust interesting.
Deletethe thing that attracted me to the book along way gone is that it is about a war story and i like those kind of books because they are mostly action packed books that keep you interested and make you wanna keep reading. the main character of the book is a boy named Ishmael. so far i like the book because it jumped right into action and didnt waste any time getting there
ReplyDeleteI like the war story and the book caught my attention the 1st page so I had to stick with it .
DeleteI also enjoy reading stories about war because of all the action and build up. Sometimes I forget that this book is nonfiction while reading it, and I couldn’t imagine having to go through what Ishmael did.
Deletei dont read any books at all but when its about war, it makes it a little bit easier because its very interesting to hear the stories that some people had to go through. so far this book has really got my attention and im only a couple pages in
DeleteI also think it is interesting how different kids in different country's have to survive there life. and the different things they have to go through.
DeleteMy book, "I am Malala" sounds similar to your book because the beginning started off with explaining the taliban and the main character, Malala, was shot in the beginning of the book.
Deletewhats the book you are reading? im interested.
DeleteNothing attracted me to this novel because I did not pick to read this book. The primary focus of the novel is this family in Afghanistan. After reading a few chapters, it is a very slow start and boring.
ReplyDeleteIs there anything more going on in this book then just a family in Afghanistan? Has there been anything that you have found interesting in any way?
DeleteHello Cody I agree that the book is starting out slow but now that I'm farther in the book I feel that it has picked up quite a bit. What do you think about Nana? I feel as if she's treats Maria like she's a terrible daughter and she never wanted her in the first place.
DeleteI got the book "A Long Way Gone" by Ishmael Beah. I haven't gotten very far in the book but so far the rebels started attacking the neighboring town and people are starting to run from town to town, some being wounded and some being killed. so far I am kind of liking this book because there is a lot of action in the first few pages.
ReplyDeleteI also got the book A long Way Gone and I also like the book of the action that is in it. I also like the book because of how it is mainly about survival.
DeleteI also got A Long Way Gone and the action that takes place in the book and it just seems like there will never be a dull moment.
Deletei really like this book so far because of all the action packed parts and that there is never a really dull moment in the book so far
DeleteI read the kite runner and I would say its been a slow start to the book but what attracted me the most was the 2 kids and them sharing there past with each other as well with the mother i liked when she would share stuff about her past with the people she knows pretty close
ReplyDeleteThe relationship between the two kids also attracted me to choosing this book because it is interesting to find out what they go through together. I also agree that it is a slow start hopefully something happens soon that is interesting.
DeleteI was attracted to this book as well, mainly due to the unlikely, but inseparable relationship between the two boys.
DeleteThe unbreakable relationship between Amir and Hassan made the book very interesting and made me more attached to the book also
Deletewhat made me choose this book was the interesting relationship between the two children. Also, trust me many interesting things do happen and you will be pleased with the book!
DeleteI was attacked to the book "A Thousand Splendid Suns" because of how its in another country about a young girl that has to live when a mother that calls her a bastard child. The main character Mariam is fifteen years old having to deal with her father that has four wives and many children and her mother that doesn't talk but bad about Jalil the father. so fare Mariam seems to be neglected by both her parents and when her mother does notice her all she does is tell her how horrible her life is. Also the book is moving slow just telling us a background of her life so fare. Right now its not sucking me in but hopefully it will in the next chapters.
ReplyDeleteI feel bad for Mariam because she feels so alone and no one cares for her. I also agree the book is a bit slow, but what it is telling us about Afghanistan culture I think its helping me understand the book a bit more by knowing the background of the country.
DeleteI do think the story will pick up in the coming pages, as I'd expect a book with 400+ pages to be a little bit of a slow burn. Plus, it'll be intriguing to see if Mariam's parents wind up being a little more caring, as even Jalil is very reluctant to do much with her away from her home.
Deletei think the book picks up around chapter five and it gets good. i enjoy learning about the different cultures around the world and how different people live. i do not think her parents are very nice.
Deletefrom the beginning, i already dont like her mom or dad. it is very sad that a little 15 year old has to go through this basically by herself. i hope this story gets better
Deletewhat attracted me to the book "Knight" was the violence and it seemed like a good book. the primary focus is a Jewish town getting taken over by the Germans and being forced to live in ghettos and now being forced to move to work in a factory. most of the characters are in good spirits because they are with there families. the first few pages of the book was very slow but now it is starting to pickup.
ReplyDeleteI agree that the book had a slow start that was boring but it is starting to pick up now. Also do you think that there good spirits will change for the better or for the worse as the book goes on
DeleteI think there spirits will change for the worse as they get moved to the work camps and separated from there families.
Deleteafter reading past the slow part can you see how their spirits are starting to shift and how they are not as optimistic about everything anymore, or that they finally realize that they won't know when it will end
DeleteI am reading A long way gone and the primary focus in this book is how the rebels came to town and started killing people and destroying houses and everyone's property. In result of this almost everyone gets separated from their families but the people that do survive run from town to town trying to get as far away from the rebels as they can. My thoughts on the book is that they jump right into it and so far I like this book because of how its kind of about trying to survive.
ReplyDeleteThe book sounds really interesting! I hope the characters have a good ending.
DeleteThis book sounds interesting and the characters seem like they will have a good outcome.
DeleteI would not say the primary focus is how the rebels came and destroyed things I think it just is a little backstory to what Ishmael goes through and how things like that war can effect a person significantly.
DeleteIt is interesting to see how everyone in the book has a different idea of what it means to "survive." For example, Ishmael doesn't want to sit in one place for too long, but Kaloko would prefer not to move at all from their hiding places. It just shows how not everyone knows what is the correct strategy to survival.
DeleteMy top choice was Night mostly because it is short (I'm already over half way through). the primary focus of this novel is sort of a summary of Elie Wiesel's life in work camps during the holocaust. He writes about it as if it was all in the past which probably makes sense because you wouldn't want to remember everything. that leads me to believe that he had a much harder time living through what he did than what he lets on in the book. I find this book very informative about what people had to live through in the past. it kind of jumps right in after going into what happened before he was imported into the work camps.
ReplyDeleteI agree that you had to say about how he probably had a harder time then what he lets on in the novel. really makes me think about what he could have left out of the book.
DeleteI can only imagine that he couldn't bring himself to write some of the horrible things he was forced to endure. In an event such as this I can see one's brain blocking out certain things.
DeleteFull disclosure, I was really just attracted to A Thousand Splendid Suns because it was the highest rated book on Goodreads of the options we had to choose from. As I've begun to churn through the story, I've learned that the biggest storyline so far has been about who really cares for Mariam (the main character): her mother, Nana, or her father, Jalil. Nana is a lot more harsh, so much as to call her harami, or "bastard child," directly to her face. Jalil is rich and well-connected, and Mariam is much more convinced of his love in contrast to Nana's. However, so far, we're being left to decipher for ourselves if Jalil's affection is real, or if he really doesn't care for Mariam, as Nana tries cramming into her head.
ReplyDeleteThe start has been a little akin to molasses, but I'm sure it'll pick up as things begin to unfold.
how do you think Mariam's mothers Nana will affect her as she grows up? like how she treated her and what she did at the end of chapter 5 will affect Mariam. i think it will really change Mariam, i fell like she feels the blame of it is all on her.
DeleteMy top choice was Night because it is about something that interests me, the Holocaust. The author is a survivor and he is telling his story about what happened to him and what he went through. This novel is fast moving and jumps right in. After this week of reading my thoughts on this book is that it is really eye opening to what they had to do. I believe that I am really going to like this book.
ReplyDeleteI agree in the fact that it is an eye opening book. And I too am enjoying it so far even though it is a heavier book that's graphic.
Deletei agree with you completely, i chose the book the same book as you for that reason! i love learning about the holocaust, it is a very interesting topic.
DeleteIn my book A Long Way Gone there are also a lot of eye opening topics discussed, and at a fast pace. Do you think the characters will react to violence differently than they did the first time they witnessed it later in the novel? My main character Ishmael is already showing he is desensitized to the sight of violence as he sees it every day now.
DeleteThe thing that attracted me to "Night" was mainly the fact that its focused during the height of WW2 and that's a topic I know some things about. I figured it would be a good read no matter how heavy or graphic it reads. And I was right. so far it is a good book but it is very graphic.
ReplyDeleteI'm reading A long way gone and it is very graphic to, but it seam's like it just brings more attention to detail of how truly horrible it was form them and how it left them with a scar into there memory.
DeleteNothing attracted me to this A Thousand Splendid Suns because I did not get to chose it since I was gone. Reading the first pages, the part that has caught my eye is how Mariam is treated by her family. The primary focus is on Mariam's life. The characters her mom and dad are mean to her and she is hitting a breaking point. My initial thoughts about the book is I'm confused about their culture. This book is a little choppy and slow in the beginning.
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't necessarily say her dad is "mean," although there is definitely something he's hiding. Her mother doesn't hold anything back, though, and her literal gaslighting of Mariam is extremely concerning to see.
DeleteI do agree that her mother treats her terribly but she hasn't seen her dad in so long and her father doesn't know what she really looks like either. I believe that her mother is very set in her ways and wants Mariam to be very much like her.
DeleteI agree that it is very weird how they are treating this little girl in the book. It seems like the only person that is nice to Mariam is Jalil.
DeleteI chose the book Night. I liked the fact that this is a true story based on the the Holocaust. I did have a hard time getting interested at first because of the initial Jewish terms. It is starting to pick up because the Germans are now here and the Jews are basically slaves in their own home.
ReplyDeleteya I agree the first few pages were not very interesting and very difficult to understand
DeleteI chose the book A Long Way Gone.I got caught on the first page seeing how a kid would have to grow up without a father and war.Ishmeal is dealing with this better than any kid could meeting up with his friends was the best thing for him to do.
ReplyDeleteI also think the talent shows they do together really takes his mind off of the stuff that is going on around hi.
DeleteI chose I am Malala because I have been wanting to read it for a while. The primary focus of the novel is the main character, Malala, trying to get an education in a country that believes that women are below men. So far, Malala has handed everything thing that was thrown at her very well. With how far I've gotten, the book feels slow.
ReplyDeleteI also agree that the book is starting off slow and that she has handled everything that has happend so far very well.
DeleteI like how you mentioned the fact that the book does not value women as much as men. A few examples of this are: when girls are born there is no party like there is when boys are born, and a highly controversial topic in the book is that girls should not go to school and get a proper education.
DeleteI was attracted to this book mainly because I like to learn about other cultures, but I don’t know much about Africa. This novel has been all about escaping war so far and leaving behind everything that the main character knows. The main character is terrified most of the time but there are some happy moments with friends. I feel like this book jumps right in to action since the war started happening in the first few pages. I wish I had gotten to know a little more about their life in Africa before such a drastic change was made, but either way I still like the book.
ReplyDeleteThe book did jump in right away explaining some of the awful things the boys had to go through but it jumping strait into the war got me a little more intrested.
DeleteHow old are all of these kids that have to go to way ? Is he going with friends?
DeleteI was attracted to this book because it has to do with the Holocaust and I find it to be an interesting topic to learn about. My initial thought of the book is that it had a little bit of a slow start but has now started to pick up and become more interesting. The main characters are in shock and are not really sure how to handle to situation.
ReplyDeleteThe holocaust is a good topic to read about. I'm assuming your book takes place in Germany. Are the main characters Jewish?
Deletei completely agree the first few pages where really slow and a little harder to understand but when you get past it you can really feel the energy change and see how it affected his family and others
DeleteThe thing that attracted me to I am Malala was the fact that she stood up for womans rights. She never let anything stop her from speaking her mind and fighting for woman’s education rights. The initial thought of the book is that it’s kinda starting of slow because she’s just talking about what happend to her and she hasn’t got into any other details.
ReplyDeleteI was intrigued by the book The Kite Runner because it was recommended to me by a friend who has given me very good suggestions in the past. I also liked it because it values friendship between two unlikely people that cannot be separated. In the first few chapters that I have read, the book seems like a slower paced one compared to the other books I have read in the past. Amir, my main character, has not been put up against and plot changing situations yet but in the small ones he has dealt with so far, he has not reacted at all.
ReplyDeleteDo you think that this is how he will react to a lot more of the challenges he will face?
DeleteHow do you think Amir will change with the upcoming chapters?
Deletethe thing that atracted me to my book would be the title (A Long Way Gone). it just sounds interesting and the kid on the cover is walking away from something which may mean somthing. it seems liek the primary focus is something along with the houlocaust and genocide but have not quite pinned that down. the main charcaters are ypoung boys in middle school id say and they are handling it about as good as they can, just hoping to live and laughing about it afterwards once they made it. after reading ther book jumps right in to the action and i like it alot that way it isnt boring.
ReplyDeletethe thing that attracted me to this novel was the storyline of it being about the holocaust and Nazi's. ever since i had US History last year, ive been very interested in that type of history. i feel like the primary focus of this book is the main character, Eliezer, telling his story of what happened to him since he was a jew and the types of stuff that happened to him in Germany. the main character is Eliezer, and another poor jew named Moishe. the book jumped in pretty fast and got almost all my attention right away.
ReplyDeleteOne thing that attracted me to my book was it talking about war and younger boys in war and that got me interested in "a long way gone". A primary focus in my novel is Ishmael dealing with his dreams, his new life, and his flashbacks to the war. So far I haven't been able to see how he would handle it I haven't gotten that far yet. The book kind of jumps right into the war and all the horrifying things that Ishmael had to go through. I like where the book is going and I am interested in how the rest of the book will be.
ReplyDeleteon a scale from 1-10, what would you rate it so far? and do you have any questions on the book so far?
DeleteThe thing that attracted me to a long way gone was because of the war. War fascinates me and how everyone's perspective on it is. The primary focus to this novel is Ishmael and his friend group running all around escaping the rebels and scavenging for food. The book really jumps in with action which I really enjoy.
ReplyDeleteI also have this book. This book is good and very interesting because I like Reading about History. Do you think that Ishmael and his friends will survive this war and reunite with their families once the rebels go away? Do you think the rebels will ever go away or do you think that someone is going to take over and save the village of Mattru Jong?
DeleteI am reading Kite Runner and did not pick this book has a slow start, but two kids in who live in Afghanistan where ones poor and ones rich and they live very differently but are best friends. Its starting to build up to war and Amir is getting told by his Father to stay clear of some people.
ReplyDeletemy book is about war too. I'm wondering how your characters became friends.
DeleteMy book also includes a war and is very graphic. How did your characters become friends and do you think you will end of liking the book once it gets to a very detailed part of the book? Why do you think the book is called Kite Runner?
DeleteI agree when joey said the book starts off very slow
DeleteI didn't get to choose my book. I was forced into this one. I am reading A Long Way Gone. The book is focusing on a civil war and the rebels are killing innocents and invading villages. The main character has to survive by searching for food and avoiding the rebels after his village was attacked. The book definitely jumps right into it. It is a very gory book
ReplyDeletei agree it is a good book but i also think some chapters are kind of boring
DeleteIf you had a chance to change your book and read any other option, would you if so why so?
DeleteI did not get to choose the book that I wanted but I got A Long Way Gone. The book is focusing on a civil war that took place in the town of Mattru Jong. Ishmael and his friends left the town realizing that there is no more home. The rebels took that from them once they started attacking the town and everyone that was living there. The main character Ishmael Beah has to learn how to survive by finding food and shelter for himself and his 5 other friends that are with him. They have to stay clear from the rebels if they want to live. If the rebels see any of them they will get attacked and end of dead. The book is very violent and gets right into the war. There is no warning about how bad the chapter is going to get until you read it. It is extremely graphic in my eyes.
ReplyDeletei agree it started off really graphic and gorey
DeleteThe thing that hooked me is my book a long way gone is about war kind of. I do like to read about this type of suff. the primary focus is ishmael and his friends trying to find there parents while getting away from the rebels. The characters are calm. Probably a lot calmer then i would be. My initial thoughts are it jumped right into gore and blood. Definitely was not ready for that.
ReplyDeleteA long way gone really stood out to me in many different ways. While reading I learned so much and seem to be overwhelmed so far. The beginning of a long way gone goes many different places in a short amount of pages and is sorta slow. From running from the rebels to visiting different places. The main reason I picked A long way gone is it reminds me of the movie Hotel Rwanda, which I consider a great movie. They have many different connections epically with the time they have with rebels and people trying to stop them.
ReplyDeletemy book was off to a very slow start (thousand splended suns) however the way the charachter depicts her like it should be called a thousand dreary moons. i now really enjoy the book because of its hooks.
ReplyDeletethe book that was chosen for me was kite runner, I can relate greatly to this book because me and my older brother used to terrorize the town we lived in just like Amir and hissing did. I am only to chapter 5 currently but what I got out of the book so far is a war that is going on in Pakistan.
ReplyDeleteThe reason I had A Long Way Gone as my number 1 choice was because there is not a lot of books that follow a child solider in Africa, so I thought it would be an interesting read. After the first chapter I knew I would love this book. Ishmael, the main character, and his friends are so likeable. It take no time for the violence to start, as about 10 pages into the book the boys witness a mother carrying her dead child that she was convinced was still alive. So far, the book is emotionally draining but, I cannot put it down.
ReplyDeleteI got a Thousand Splendid Suns and nothing really peaked my interest in this book for me which is why it was my 3rd or 4th pick. I have to say at the least is, the amount I've read so far is actually looking up with amazing scenery details, a different time/ way of living style, and the overall plot making a little more sense. otherwise its still been building plot for the few chapters I have read and nothing too crazy other than with Mariam's nana hanging out.
ReplyDeletewhat attracted me to night by Elie Wiesel was how it is read by the writer from his perspective and how it showcases his own events leading up to him being stripped from his home his family and from everyone he has talked too or has been friends with, the part that caught my attention the most was the start of the book and how Moishe warned all of them of what was to come and how nobody believed him until it actually took place. i really enjoy how the book is through the writers eye and how its not just another story written by someone else its his story to tell.
ReplyDeleteIn the Kite runner the main focus is how the two children in the book experience many different things due to the way they are brought up but somehow manage to be there for each other through it all. The thing that attracted me was how they still manage to be friends despite there differences especially at this day in time. My first impression of the book was how confusing it was and they skipped from different characters but once you figure out which character belongs where it makes a lot more sense.
ReplyDeleteMy book is I am Malala and something that attracted me to this book was hearing about it from other people. I know some people who have read it before and they all thought it was very interesting so i thought i would give it a try. In the beginning it started off on the slower side, mainly all background. So far it seems good but i am ready for it to get interesting.
ReplyDelete