Published in 2003
by Pamela Dean
That last question from my last blog is a great topic. How do the swords really work? The children in the book have gathered up different theories. Either Secret Country is real or they are all hallucinating and imaging the same world at the same time. They fit perfectly into the storyline of Secret Country because they replace the royal children of the kingdom. So, somehow, the original royal children just cease to exist. The swords do not even make sense by how they were placed in the areas because, after reading further through th book, the swords are that of two ancient reknown wizards. If the swords started in Secret Country, how would they end up in actual reality, which lacks magic? Dean's plotline is just a little hard to follow, but still makes for a better read than some other plotlines I have read.
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Friday, March 26, 2010
The Secret Country
Published in 2003
by Pamela Dean
When I first picked up this book, I read that it was about children who play a fantasy world together. Then all the sudden, they can no longer play this game because two are separated from the others and the world cannot be continued. Then, to solve the problem, Dean creates a bridge between reality and their fantasy world, through the use of swords. Somehow, swords that could let them travel to "Secret Country" existed near their homes and they could all play together. None of this really makes any sense. Why? Because I don't think Dean can keep my attention long enough in the ordinary parts of her book and I tend to skim over things. Does it really make sense for swords to be in easily found places and just to have kids find them? How do the swords even work? How would they be able to relate a made-up fantasy world and make it reality?
by Pamela Dean
When I first picked up this book, I read that it was about children who play a fantasy world together. Then all the sudden, they can no longer play this game because two are separated from the others and the world cannot be continued. Then, to solve the problem, Dean creates a bridge between reality and their fantasy world, through the use of swords. Somehow, swords that could let them travel to "Secret Country" existed near their homes and they could all play together. None of this really makes any sense. Why? Because I don't think Dean can keep my attention long enough in the ordinary parts of her book and I tend to skim over things. Does it really make sense for swords to be in easily found places and just to have kids find them? How do the swords even work? How would they be able to relate a made-up fantasy world and make it reality?
Saturday, March 20, 2010
The Positive Power of Praising People
Published in 1994
by Jerry D. Twentier
Prettium is the Latin noun for price. I have taken Latin, so I would know. Twentier makes a connection between the English word for praise and this Latin word. Praise is derived from prettium. To be derived from a word is to share similar meanings. This means that praise is similar to price or highly valued. To be valued is to be helpful in some manner. Helpful can be defined many ways. Say there are two flashlights. They both perform their functions equally. However, one looks better than another because it is black, while the other is a conglomeration of mix-matched colors. The black one is more valued just because it looks better. Sometimes looks are valued not for vanity, but for the simply reason that people just like things cause they look better. It is a value in human society that exists everywhere because everything has a price.
by Jerry D. Twentier
Prettium is the Latin noun for price. I have taken Latin, so I would know. Twentier makes a connection between the English word for praise and this Latin word. Praise is derived from prettium. To be derived from a word is to share similar meanings. This means that praise is similar to price or highly valued. To be valued is to be helpful in some manner. Helpful can be defined many ways. Say there are two flashlights. They both perform their functions equally. However, one looks better than another because it is black, while the other is a conglomeration of mix-matched colors. The black one is more valued just because it looks better. Sometimes looks are valued not for vanity, but for the simply reason that people just like things cause they look better. It is a value in human society that exists everywhere because everything has a price.
Thursday, March 18, 2010
The Positive Power of Praising People
Published in 1994
by Jerry D. Twentier
From the title, "The Positive Power of Praising People", one can only wonder what this book is about. It is, quite simply, a book on the power of praising people. The "fine art of appreciation" is a means of acceptance to others. This book looks to be odd in that it specifies praising people. But it makes sense. "In the Psalms and many other sacred writings, praise tends to be associated with gratitude, thanksgiving, and celebration, all of which gladden the heart." Twentier makes an appeal to authority when he mentions religious texts in this manner. This appeal works because everyone knows that religious texts and their effect on people. Religion has divided and united the world for thousands of years. Islam, Christianity, Lutheranism, and more all have caused conflict amoung different societies. And sometimes that conflict just happens to lead to the spreadng of cultures. The main thing Twentier looks at when mentioning religion is the feeling people get from religion, knowing there is an entity watching over them.
by Jerry D. Twentier
From the title, "The Positive Power of Praising People", one can only wonder what this book is about. It is, quite simply, a book on the power of praising people. The "fine art of appreciation" is a means of acceptance to others. This book looks to be odd in that it specifies praising people. But it makes sense. "In the Psalms and many other sacred writings, praise tends to be associated with gratitude, thanksgiving, and celebration, all of which gladden the heart." Twentier makes an appeal to authority when he mentions religious texts in this manner. This appeal works because everyone knows that religious texts and their effect on people. Religion has divided and united the world for thousands of years. Islam, Christianity, Lutheranism, and more all have caused conflict amoung different societies. And sometimes that conflict just happens to lead to the spreadng of cultures. The main thing Twentier looks at when mentioning religion is the feeling people get from religion, knowing there is an entity watching over them.
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
World War Z
published in 2006
by Max Brooks
Brooks goes into so many details in this book. But there is one question that is on my mind the entire time. What started the zombie virus? No one seems to know. And yet instantly the Chineese government seemed to know exactly what to do in the first case presented by the book. Why is that? Maybe it was just because being a reporter, Brooks did not give himself access to high ranking officials. This makes him more plausible, by not being able to do everything. But still how did the disease start? It affected everyone in the world and no one knew the answer. I feel as though the origin of the disease would be one of the major thing on everyone's minds. With so many resources someone should have found out the answer and shared it with the world.
by Max Brooks
Brooks goes into so many details in this book. But there is one question that is on my mind the entire time. What started the zombie virus? No one seems to know. And yet instantly the Chineese government seemed to know exactly what to do in the first case presented by the book. Why is that? Maybe it was just because being a reporter, Brooks did not give himself access to high ranking officials. This makes him more plausible, by not being able to do everything. But still how did the disease start? It affected everyone in the world and no one knew the answer. I feel as though the origin of the disease would be one of the major thing on everyone's minds. With so many resources someone should have found out the answer and shared it with the world.
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