Shiva's Fire Update 3

After reading Shiva's Fire, I found lots of spots where I could relate to, which was a huge plus for the book. When Pavarti had been working up her passion for dancing so that she could perform her arengretum, it reminded me about how I needed to rehearse for certain things so that I could perform them, whether it was with a group or just by myself. For example, rehearse the songs I'm playing for in marching band, or going to vocal rehearsals with my choir so that we can perform too. Even though I did like these moments in the book, I was not a huge fan of Shiva's Fire. I felt that while the plot seemed very interesting and the Indian culture in the book was also very intriguing, I couldn't really connect to characters too much. Even though for me, it was very easy to relate to Pavarti, it seemed like I couldn't really connect to Pavarti for any other reason. While Shiva's Fire was a nice book to introduce me to some Indian culture, I felt like Shiva's Fire was my least favorite book out of all of the other books.

This is the stage of an arengretum, like Pavarti had performed.

Shiva's Fire Update 2

As I continue the story, it seems that I'm starting to grasp the story more and more. The book is starting to make more sense to me. The book seems to be focusing more on the plot than the rest of the elements, now that the story is actually developing. In my first update, I talked about how I was able to relate to the book because of my passion for the arts. I can relate to Pavarti again because she is faced with a decision based on taking up her life on doing the arts. This summer, I was faced the decision to do two shows at my local theater, which meant taking up four days each week during the summer. For Pavarti, the theater would be the gurukulam. And while I ran shows at the theater, Pavarti would dance at the gurukulam. I can also relate because Pavarti always admired dancers when she was younger. When I was younger, I looked up to actors and musicians because they always inspired me. So far, I'm beginning to like the book a little bit more just because of these connections.

This is a gurukulam going on, where the guru is mentoring her children.

Shiva's Fire Update 1

In Shiva's Fire, the plot so far is a bit unusual. I didn't expect Parvati's father to be killed by a herd of elephants, or a monsoon to occur as Pavarti before. Even though all of this happens around Pavarti, Pavarti's life is okay and has some surprises along the way as she survives with her family and the other villagers. I'm able to connect with this because usually while bad things happen around me, I have a good life and have good luck too, just like Pavarti. At the same time, I also feel really bad for Pavarti, because she gets blamed for everything that happens just because she was born on the day of the monsoon. What I can't understand is her powers to talk and connect to animals. It just seems unnatural and flat out odd. But I really like her passion for dancing, because I can understand having a passion for the arts, as I am a music man myself.

I chose this picture of a herd of elephants because of Pavarti's father getting killed by a herd.

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society Update 3

The last two months of the book had to be my favorite part of the book, because of the events that occur in these months. One has to be the notes from famous author, Oscar Wilde, and how those notes could make Stephen & Stark Publishing one of the most famous publishing companies in the world. Another has to be Juliet’s new relationship with Dawsey. In my updates, I was talking about how I disliked the idea of Juliet and Mark’s relationship, but Juliet’s love life has really shaped up after sending Mark away on a flight out. I also really loved it when Juliet and Dawsey announced their marriage at the end of the book. My favorite moment of the book altogether definitely has to be when Juliet adopts Kit from Amelia, which for me is a really touching moment. While this book was hard to follow at first because of its writing style, I feel like The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society was an interesting book to read about and a great entrance into English literature.

This is a photo of famous author Oscar Wilde.

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society Update 2

In the next three months of the book, the book keeps getting sadder, and yet more happy. While it was really sad that one of the main people on Guernsey, Elizabeth McKenna, had been shot in the back of the head after being sent to a punishment bunker. It was also very sad to read about all of the occupations that had happened in Guernsey. Like how Christian Hellman had drowned to death after Allie bombers had sunk his ship, or how Hitler sent over 16,000 German slave workers to the Channel Islands to work to death. Finally, it was sad how the children on the school buses thought they were going on a field trip somewhere, and were sent away for over five years. Also, in my last update, I had said that Mark and Juliet’s relationship seemed fishy, and it proved to be true when Mark pulled up in a taxi and forced marriage on Juliet. Luckily, Juliet had sent Mark away on the next flight out, which definitely had to be my favorite part of the story.

This is a photo of London, England, today.

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society Update 1

In The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, the first couple of the months of the book are somewhat hard for me to follow. The story seems all over the place emotion-wise. It was really sad reading about Juliet’s life, standing her fiancé up at the altar, her parents dying in an auto accident, and her uncle ignoring her until she went out to boarding school. It was also sad reading about the lives of the people on Guernsey. Like how Eben Ramsay was set to take care of Eli after Eli’s relatives had passed. I was pretty happy when the more enlightening parts of the book came in. For example, it was nice knowing that when Juliet had finally left her uncle to go to boarding school, she had thrived and met Sophie and Sydney. Also, I’m unsure where Mark and Juliet’s relationship will go to next, because even though Juliet doesn’t know a lot about Mark, she still pursues him and goes on dates with him, which, to me, seems fishy.

This is the island of Guernsey, where the Potato Peel Society resides.

The Glass Castle Update 3

After Lori and Jeannette made it to New York City, I wasn’t expecting all of the twists, like Dad getting tuberculosis, Maureen stabbing Mom and getting arrested, Mom and Dad ending up on the streets, and more. It was especially a tearjerker when Dad had died towards the end, because I could never imagine my dad ending up the way he did. Even though it was kind of sweet of Mom and Dad to move up to New York when the kids did, I found it to be sort of creepy at the same time. It was odd how they followed them up to New York when the kids’ sole purpose was to get away from them and Welch. But what I really liked was when they all gathered for Thanksgiving at the end. It showed me that from all they have been through – deaths, moving, abuse, and more – they could still come together as a family and rejoice over the past and the present.

This is a photo of New York City, where at one point, almost all of the Walls family moved to.

The Glass Castle Update 2

Reading about the Walls’ experience in Welch took me on a rollercoaster of emotions. For example, when Maureen was terrified about the river rat that had ended up on her bed, I felt terrified with her. When Lori and Jeannette found Oz smashed and robbed, I was disappointed and angered, just like they were. When Lori had finally gotten to New York, I felt delighted and at the same time, proud. I felt the same way when Jeannette had gotten on the bus to New York too. I had begun to like Mom and Dad less and less as they continued their time in Welch, and started to like the kids more and more. I also started to dislike Edma and Uncle Stanley too, as I felt they were both abusing the kids and Mom and Dad too much. But as they lived in Welch longer and longer, I had more and more hope that Jeannette, Lori, and Brian could make it out of Welch and make it somewhere else that was happier. This is why I really liked the ending of the Welch section better than the rest of the section.

This is a photo of Welch, West Virginia, where the Walls family moved to after they lived in Phoenix.

The Glass Castle Update 1

 In The Glass Castle, I was surprised how much moving the Walls family went through while they were residing in the desert. Especially how Jeanette, Brian, Lori, and Maureen were already used to moving, or doing the “skedaddle.” I’m not a huge fan of Rex Walls in this story up to this point; I feel like he’s a drunken, paranoid dad who over thinks everything. I like Jeannette though, because I feel like I can relate to her with the intelligence side of her. I also like how her enthusiasm helped keep her going throughout her life in the desert with her odd family. One of my favorite parts in the story so far has to be the part where Lori finally gets glasses and can see the world around her. This is because I remember when I first got my glasses in elementary school, and I could see every individual leaf on our surrounding trees, just like Lori. So far, even it gets very tedious or depressing, the book still finds ways to intrigue me.

This is a photo of Phoenix, where the Walls family lived in for a period of time.