East of Eden

My first thoughts of East of Eden was that it seemed like an interesting enough book. The book showed the different ways Steinbeck thought about the people and the land. Most people are taught a romanticized version on how how everythign came to be. But in East of Eden Steinbeck seems to tell it like it is. He doesnt try to sugarcoat anything and brings in a new perspective on things. It is seemingly refreshing to read comapred to other books that I have read.

Lonely Hearts

Lonely Hearts is about everyone who is looking for love. People just want someone to love, and they always want to be loved. They want to  be able to share memories. They want someone to care for, some on eto understand them, someone to be their companion. We are all essentially looking for love even when we are not intenionally doing it. Humans want to feel like they belong, and feel like someone understands them. People who are in relationships tend to live longer than those who are single. Love makes us truly happy.

Will beauty save the world?

I believe beauty can save the world. If there was more beauty in the world I believe it would be a better place. By beauty I don't mean beauty in people but by beauty in our environment and surroundings. If the places where we lived looked better, we would be more proud of it and we would want to share that beauty with others. Beauty in our environment brings a sense of calm and serenity. It makes us appreciate what we have a lot more. It also make us more willing to give others the opportunity to have beauty. Beauty should be shared, never kept to oneself. Beauty is in the color of flowers, the ocean, the sky etc. Beauty is the way we are selfless and help others. Beauty comes within. The meaning of beauty is different to each person. Now I do not know if beauty will actually save the world. But maybe it can. It can bring people together or tear them apart.

Good Country People

I recently read the story Good Country People and I found it very enjoyable. Good Country People is a story about a woman named Joy (she later changes her name to Hulga) and how she doesn't feel comfortable with herself. On the outside, she puts on a mask and does not let other peole see how she really feels. But on the inside, she feels insecure. To cover up her insecurity and low self esteem she acts like she is better than other people because of her education. She changes her name to Hulga because she feels like the name Joy does not fit her. She feels Joy is too happy and pretty of a name. She feels ugly because she has a wooden leg. "Hulga" does not really have faith in anything. Later on in the story, the reader find out that she did have kind of faith, her faith was in her wooden leg. It took someone to steal her wooden leg for her to finally depend on someone and be vulnerable. Her faith was in her wooden leg because it helped her get around, without it she was helpless. This story taught me that no matter how confident someone seems to be we all have some insecurities deep down inside. We think can do it all, but in reality we cannot.

Girl

I read this story called "Girl" by Jamaica Kincaid. The story is about a mother constantly telling her daughter what to do, and how to do it. Alot of teenagers can relate to this because parents are constantly telling us how we should do things, and get mad if we don't do something in the way they wanted us to do it. We all have expectations to live up to form our parents. Sometimes it can be overbearing. "You mean to say that after all you are reallly going to be the kind of woman who the baker won't let near the bread." Whenever I don't meet my parent's expectations I feel like I have disappointed them sometimes, but other time I don't care like the daughter in the story. Sometimes I just want to make myself happy and enjoy myself. Which is how the daughter in "Girl" feels. You can't always please everyone. Or else you will never be truly content.

Midnight's Children

I have been reading a book for the outside reading called "Midnight's Children". The book is about a boy named Saleem Sinai. Saleem Sinai was born at the stroke of midnight on August 15, 1947. Which is when India officially became independent from England.Saleem realizes later on that all children who were born at midnight on August 15th have special powers. He tries to use his powers to bring all the children together and figure out the meanings of their gifts. This represents the diversity of India. The way the story is written  kind of outlines India's history and its independence. Anything that has to do with India always interests me, especially history. India is just so rich in culture, that I cannot help but to be fascinated by its history.