Reading Blog, Mythology

I read part 4 in the book entitled "Mythology". This chapter in the book is called The adventures of Odysseus. In this chapter there is a man named Odysseus. He was involved in the Trojan War fighting for the Greeks. This causes a series of troubles for Odysseus. The struggles he is faced with also keep him from getting back to his home land Ithaca, where he has a wife and a baby boy waiting for him. He was blown off course because of his hubris (or pride). He said that it was him that caused his side to win the war, and that man did not need the god's help. This caused the water god (Poseidon) to become very angry. In his frustration he punishes Odysseus with 10 years of wondering the earth. Odysseus and his crew soon find out that the god was serious. They begin to see the hardships that Poseidon had been talking about. Meanwhile Athena who is now in Olympus starts to feel affectionate for Odysseus. She asks the other gods to help watch over Odysseus, and do anything that they can to make his journey shorter. Odysseus and his crew members experienced many things during their journey. For example, the ran into the lotus-eaters. These people where men who had a very narcotic flower which gave the men a high feeling. A few of the men try the flower and do not want to go back but Odysseus has to drag them back on the ship and set sail.

I noticed that the author used Cause and Effect organization. He lists the things that causes Odysseus to have a terrible journey.

I really enjoyed this story. It was entertaining and also it was very thrilling. The way the People in those ages talked and even fought. I know that even though it was a myth while reading it I felt as though it was real. The story is just amazing.

Meeting the "Stapletons"

I have now read the chapter Called “Stapleton’s of Merripet House” of the Sherlock Holmes book: “The Hound of the Baskervilles”. In this chapter Watson and Sir Henry discuss the advantages of the great Baskerville hall. Watson being who he was starts to mention the crying he heard the night before. Sir Henry also agrees with Watson, he said that he had heard sobbing, but Sir Henry said that he thought that it was just a dream. Barrymore the butler starts to get flustered when they start talking about the crying and sobbing. He told them that it was not him and it was not his wife. Watson figures out that it was actually Barrymore’s wife hat was crying because he saw that her eyes were red and they were very swollen. In all of the confusion he starts to wish that Holmes was with him.

               Just as Watson and Sir Henry are walking and are just taking a stroll, a man who is carrying a butterfly net, starts to call Watson by his name. He shows casual manners to Watson and also to Sir Henry.  After they meet Mr. Stapleton he starts to run after a butterfly. Then Watson starts to talk to the dark, slender beauty Mrs. Stapleton. The two are not actually married but they are actually brother and sister, well that is what Mr. Stapleton said.

               I was very shocked at how Mr. Stapleton knew Watson’s name. After that I found it very strange how he just left them standing there. This whole chapter was very mysterious. The whole theme over the chapter was deceiving. Many people lied to each other but in later parts of the chapter.  

Chapter 3 Summary: The Hound of the Baskervilles

                I have now read the third chapter in the story of the "Hound of the Baskervilles". The title of this chapter called "The Problem". In the chapter, Holmes is very excited about the mysterious case that he has on his hands. In this chapter, Dr. Mortimer is telling Holmes that the death of Sir Charles Baskerville, was a result of paranormal evil. He tells Holmes about the interviews he had with others, one man said that he had seen a ghostlike hound roaming the moors around night. Even though Mortimer was telling Holmes all of the information, the real reason why he was there was to ask Holmes what to do with Sir Henry Baskervilles ( the only heir of the family).

                Sir Henry Baskerville was going to arrive at Waterloo Station in one hour. He then mentions another heir which is Sir Roger Baskervilles, but the only problem is that he was presumed to be dead in South America. As for Sir Henry, Holmes promises to consider the matter, telling Mortimer to pick up Henry at the station. He also tells Mortimer to bring him straight back to his office after picking him up from Waterloo Station. After that he sends Dr. Mortimer and Watson to go and get Sir Henry. When Watson got back to the office he was greeted by a thick presence of smoke as he opened the door to the apartment. This was to the fact that Sherlock Holmes was actually addicted to things such as smoking also he was a cocaine addict.

                Holmes then starts to tell Watson his thoughts about the mysterious case that he has. He starts by asking who Sir Charles could have been waiting on at the gate before his death. He also asks why the foot prints would change, which actually showed that Sir Charles actually was starting to run as if he was being chased, but he also wants to know why he was running away from his house. After Watson and Holmes discuss the case Holmes went and started to play the violin.

                My personal reaction to this chapter was that it was very intriguing. The whole chapter had this very mysterious essence as you read. It provided me with information to the whole case and what actually happened in detail to Sir Charles. The authors purpose in this chapter was to inform us about the case more and actually show us how Holmes is observant in his ways. Some organizations in this chapter was Cause and Effect also there was a little of Spatial which was used to describe the scene of the murder.        

Chapter 1 Summary: Hound of The Baskervilles

In the opening chapter in “The Hound of The Baskervilles” Dr. Watson (who is Sherlock Holmes’s assistant) went back to the apartment at 221b Baker Street. When he arrived at the apartment he saw a Penang Lawyer (walking stick), Watson thought that the stick was left by a visitor. As Watson was examining the stick, Mr. Sherlock Holmes asked him what he was thinking of it. Watson was frightened he even said that he thought that his friend had eyes in the back of his head, because Sherlock Holmes had his back turned to him. After a few seconds, Sherlock Holmes admits that he really saw Watson through his reflection in the coffee pot.  This proved to me that Sherlock Holmes is very sharp when it comes on to observation. Watson replied to Holmes’s question, he said that he believed that the stick belonged to man, and that it was given to him from his friends’ C.C.H. he told Holmes that the man had to be elderly. Holmes gave Watson a feeling of glory as he congratulated him. After examining the stick himself, Holmes actually contradicted every single thing that Watson said. After Sherlock Holmes told Watson his opinion, he insulted him by saying that he isn’t that smart but he allows others to feel smarter about themselves, when he is around them.  The first chapter is just an introduction to the character of Sherlock Holmes.

When I read this chapter I was in shock, I did not know how Sherlock Holmes was so smart. I thought he was psychic at first because of the way he was analyzing the stick and everything about it, detail to detail. The first chapter was very interesting, it showed the type of character Holmes and Watson are. It showed me that Holmes was a very brilliant detective. His powers of observation was unique he paid attention not just to the big things but also to the small things. After I read that chapter I couldn’t put the book down.  I would use a character web to take notes since it is introducing the characters.

Last Good Book I Read

The last good book I read was Romeo and Juliet. This was a very interesting book; it brings together the elements of love and feud between families. Romeo was in love with Juliet and she was too, but family feuds could not stop the two lovers from being together. At the end of the story the two are found dead by each other in the graveyards.

What kind of Reader are you

              

               Nonfiction- Is my favorite genre of books, I like to read books that will give me information, which is based on the reality.

               Speculative Fiction- Is my second favorite genre. I try to get as far away as possible from the real world.

I agree with this because usually when I read, I always try to get something out of it. I really like to read fiction books that relate to monsters and beasts and many other things like that.