In reading The Great Gatsby, so far I’ve noticed…..

From reading the Great Gatsby I have noticed that a book you were assigned in school can actually be one of the best books you’ve ever read. I really like this book so far. I like the way Fitzgerald words the novel. I like the descriptive details and the use of color. My favorite character is Myrtle. I think she is simply complex, if that makes any sense. She is Tom’s lover. Her boring husband owns run-down garage.  She is strong and powerful. Yet, she strangely tends to get pushed around. I feel that because of this she is strong and constantly growing and improving herself. In her eyes, there is always room to improve and try to get the best for whatever situation she is faced with. Nick seems like he is honest.  He knows no other lifestyle. He is non- materialistic and modest - the best type of person you could have around. I think Gatsby is lucky to have Nick as a neighbor. Tom is Nicks guide. He leads him to Mr. Wilson’s garage. This part of the book is really awesome because it is so descriptive about color and setting. It said Mr. Wilson looked gray from the dust of the valley. He is boring and depressed. He fits with the description of gray that you gave us pretty well. I hope this book continues to be as entertaining as I think it is nowJ right now I really just can’t put it down. I spend forever on a page just to make sure I understand every single bit of the story. I read it like it’s the only thing I know how to do. And I analyze it. Every word, every color, and every gesture.

Whats the point of titles anyway?

I feel like instead of talking about lit class stresses everyone will just start complaining. So, props to you for dealing with it. J  This week I am stressed about my math test. I am stressed about the SAT( my dad makes me do a practice test every week. It makes me realize how much I really do not know. My parents are convinced that since I am terrible at math I will not get into college.  Also, I have this huge photo project due Friday using twelve filters. A filter is like using photoshop and turning picture sepia except it takes forever and you can’t just press a button.  Also, there are only four boxes of filters and like 36 people in the class. Then the teacher also said that we have to make a power point that is 25 slides on some alternate process. For example silver gelatin prints, Polaroid prints, and C-prints. It’s just crazy.  On top of that we have the GHSGT’s next week and no teacher seems to realize that that is stressful enough on its own except you. You are a very understanding person. I thank you for that.

I filled up six pages in my art journal just today because it was so stressful. Teachers yell at me but I don’t care because it keeps me from going insane. So if you see me doodling you will know why.

Here’s a list of ridiculous things that are stressing me out at the moment: my phone, Laura, the pencil sharpener, this math problem, my shoes, the fact that my mom made chili for dinner, spoiled people, the cup of pink lemonade next to me that just wont be cold, and the fact that there are absolutely no popsicles in my house.

Naturalism

I have noticed naturalism in both of the stories we have read and done seminars on. I noticed it most in the story about the dog and the man facing the tough challenges of life in a temperature below -50 degrees.  In this story by Jack London, the man and the dog face tough times. The dog always seem s to know exactly what to do in every situation but the man ( who by the way doesn’t even have a name) thinks he is more capable to do anything better than the dog. It basically says that we humans think we are superior to animals and other creatures.  It’s a very naturalist idea that dogs and other creatures don’t need humans and that nature does not care about the human.  At the end of the short story the human considers killing the dog for warmth and food but the dog has a good instinct and isn’t stupid and runs away. Now, the human is left alone to struggle.

Naturalism is also shown in April Showers by Edith Wharton shows naturalism when Theodora goes to the woods beyond the school house and it almost seems like everything is promising for her. But then soon after, the paper is published and the story is not hers. She was so sure her story would get published like Kathleen Kyd’s did on her first try. Theodora got boastful and conceited and then she got a slap in the face. Again, this naturalist belief that “Nature does not care and we are no greater” appears in the short story.

Research!!! :)

So far my research is going well. I am finding lots of helpful sources on Galileo and in real books! Who knew a library could be so helpfulJ I’ve used the Cyclopedia of literary characteristics and found articles by Ernest Hemmingway and Mark Twain about Huck and what all of his actions mean. I also used the TCLC encyclopedias.

One article I found addresses the factuality and lies in Huck’s stories. It talks about the ending and if it is successful or not. It talks about the failures of Mark Twain to “create a final action and a demeanor that will from a readers standpoint justify the credibility and truth” in the novel.

 I am having one issue with my research. Every article is way to long and they make my eyes blurr, they get all black. Then I get really dizzy and pass out. My mom is always wondering what happened because she finds me on the floor by the computer. Please give me tips to find shorter articles. The articles are helpful I just feel like they shouldn’t be sixteen pages each!

Also, my dad is annoying and did not connect the printer after we switched TV stuff and now Harper and I have to sit around and wait for ever for my dad to come home a press some buttons. Just so you know this means, A.K.A, referring to, fix the printer. But that’s okay because Harper makes yummy Chocolate milk. So yea moral of the story is, if I don’t have my sources on Monday it will be because my dad likes IKEA too much to come fix the printer for me and spend lovely father daughter bonding time with me.

You know, he never has time for me. He’s always going on man dates with my mommy’s   best friend’s husband. I think it’s a little weird but whatever, It’s my daddy and I love him.

It was also very difficult to get on to Galileo from home because I had to ask five hundred people what the password is for it until somebody finally knew what it is. Kristin and Alyssa saved me. Thank goodness somebody remembered. I texted Genevieve too, but her suggestion was to practical. She just told me to go to the library like a normal human being.