This is my last blog post and I'd like to say that blogs have been my escape. I've learned that I'm the kind of reader who's not afraid of getting lost in a book, or in a blog post. I find that I lead a very problematic life and the only way to cope with that is to learn about other people and their problems. Books are my paradise.
When I started to write blog posts, I hated them. Downright hated them. They were just another thing I had to deal with. But as I started to do them, I realized that these blog posts were... fun. They made me really feel the books that I had wrote about. Then it was getting clear that what I liked about books were the themes, and that's what I liked to write about. Blog posts made me see that books had an inside to them; themes, emotions, and it all required understanding to really comprehend these "insides" of books. And so every week, I read my books while trying to understand different emotions and views. This was a great benefit of writing blog posts; I tried to understand these views and emotions so I would write about them on my blog. My blog motivated me to really search for more in the books that I read.
I started to love writing on my blog. It wasn't a hassle, but a hobby for me. It was so more refreshing to write on a blog than to write an one-page entry in my notebook on God-knows-what. Writing on notebooks made me feel like I was limited to only my class and my teacher seeing it. Writing online made me feel free, like there were no restrictions. Anyone could see it, anyone could comment on it, and anyone could share it with just a click of a computer mouse. Again, big benefit. When I'm writing in a notebook, it feels like I can't write every single thing I want to. My blog is my blog and I can do anything I want with it. Now, I know that's practically the same thing with my notebook, but a notebook is just so academic. Like if I write something out of the box in my notebook, it just seems so wrong. Almost like my opinions don't matter, and only factual statements do. I control my blog and I'm not afraid to put what I think on it.
How many times have I seen someone try to make themselves seem interesting online? More than you think. But, it's not like I've never seen a more real person online than in real life. Some people envisage themselves as a person with more privileges online than in real life. You can write something knowing that someone will see it. You can write your feelings knowing someone will see it. I feel like I can express myself better online than in real life. I mean, who's really going to listen about your "feelings" in middle school? Our society is a cruel, harsh place, and sometimes I feel safer online than in real life. And then come the people who pretend to be something they're not. Don't get me, wrong I have nothing against them. In fact, I used to do it all the time online. I understand that people want to come on as nice and interesting, not shy and boring. So, really, everybody's different on the Web. People express themselves in different ways.
I feel like every website's freedom is somewhat abused. Especially Face-book's freedom. People get mean sometimes and it can get serious, and sometimes, it can only happen online. Teenagers do abuse the freedom of websites and they can do it by just calling people names. You can't say it to someone's face? Oh, no, don't worry. You can insult people anonymously by using Form-spring! People take advantage of these privileges. It's a horrible thing and it can scar people, emotionally and mentally.Also, I'd like to say that not everyone has the courage to say what they want to say, so maybe saying something online could be an opportunity for them to say it. Not everyone has the guts to say something in real life, so I feel like the Web really opens more options to everyone.
I can honestly imagine myself keeping this blog up for the rest of my life. Just not weekly. Or daily. If I do keep it, it wouldn't be about books anymore. It would be mainly about life and maybe even philosophy. As a side note, I would like to add that I am not creating a new blog under any circumstances. I feel too committed to this one already. These blogs are great, really. They're such a nice way to carry out any feelings you have about... anything! I'll be sure to catch up with my blog in the future. This is my 36th and last (or maybe not) blog post. Annie out.
Oh, I forgot! When I was going through my "quote" phase, I swore to myself that I would remember to put this great quote by Eleanor Roosevelt:
"If life were predictable it would cease to be life, and be without flavor."
This quote reminds me of this whole year and everything's that happened. This quote also pertains to my blog; I never know when I'll check with it or maybe even change it. My blog is like my life (although not all of it), and it will always be unpredictable.
It takes a couple seconds to say hello, but forever to say goodbye.
About Me
- Anne Li 809
- Brooklyn, New York, United States
- Aloha~Je t'aime~Love~ Cat's Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut. Beautiful. Life status: Drum roll... and wait. I'M A UNIVERSAL RECIPIENT, BABY. Melted cheese cubes are my thing. Itchy...itchy... I don't want to sound like a nerd, but I love sonnets, poetry, AND reading! Give me a good book and I'll finish it in a day. Reading makes the world go round! Hey, I could be Shakespeare number two one day. I also like posting up blogs! Yeah, yeah, I have no life. And yet I do like another thing. Chorus and rehearsals, yeah! I hate rock music though. End of story. I also don't know anything about Jedi and/or his warriors in Star Wars? So...wanna press rewind? This is my blog. Later, gators, I'll be doing the crocodile rock!
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Weekly Blog Post: The Truth About Forever
The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen
I've always loved Sarah Dessen books and I've got to say, this book is the best out of all of them. This book truly touches your heart while giving you a glimpse of what's really life. This book will connect with your mind and soul whilst bringing you a place so familiar, you could call it home. I love this book because of it's balance between love and friendship. Everything is laid out perfectly in this book and page after page, you'll realize that you were caught up in the midst of these carefully laid out emotions. Stunning details and a glorious story that will shine right through you. So let us travel aboard a story that will touch your heart. Here, there is nothing but bits of friendship, being heard, opening up, moving on, and why even, trying to be perfect.
I honestly can't imagine how my life would be without friends, even the bad friends. My idea of a friend is someone you can lean on, but someone that can on lean you as well. Macy, the main character, is the girl who has never really had a real friend and I can see that she wants one- badly. My past isn't pretty, and neither is Macy's. I've never had real friends who liked me for who I was, and I never cared since hey, at least I had friends, but that is definitely not the case. This book has taught me that we all deserve someone in our lives that makes us feel special. It can't always be us trying to improve people that won't even glance our way more than once. I love how Macy basically symbolizes every one of us that can't seem to find a real friendship.Macy seems to adapt to her new friends faster than she had when she met her old friends. Isn't that a sign already that friends are supposed to make you feel good and that they're not here to make you feel lower than them? Nobody's perfect, much less friends, but we can all strive to always be there for each other. But when you think about it philosophically, nothing is real, nothing is true. We can only try to make the best of what we can; it's what being friends about.
Being heard; the skill I've never learned to accommodate. I have never, ever, had a loud enough voice to make people listen. And when people did listen, they would think that my words didn't really matter. I've rarely chosen to say something, so I'm rarely heard. Trust me, I know how it feels like to want to tell someone something, but actually end up withdrawing. I can tell Macy has the same problem too: she's afraid someone will really listen, but not understand. She's afraid of breaking out of her shell. That's another part of Macy's problem: she's scared that people would think of her differently if she was to speak what was on her mind. She's controlled by other people's thoughts, not her own. She wants to seem the most normal human being alive. But truth is, there is no normal. We're all us. I was grown up to believe everyone was different and that's how I see things. If no two humans are alike, then how come ''most of us'' are being classified as normal? Normal is a word that isn't to describe society. Normal is not real and it will never be obtained.
Opening up is yes, another problem. Recently, I've learned that opening up is not just a way of expressing yourself, but a way of telling what you've been hiding. I like opening up, but I almost always draw back into the dark without saying a word. Macy is the same and it's almost comforting to have someone like her to be experiencing the same problems I am. Macy lets others tell her what to say and again, they basically controls her. She has no grasp on her own life. Morally, she knows what is right; she just doesn't care which side she takes: bad or good. She doesn't even know who she is and so she thinks that she can't tell about her secrets and holes inside of her. Of course, it's her choice, but opening up just can't be done for her. But as I continue this story, I learn that opening up is more like a transition rather than a decision.
The sequel to opening up is of course, moving on. Everyone can move on, everyone actually does, in the logical sense. We all forget sooner or later and it's definitely not a transition nor is it a decision. It's something your body does continuously. But the majority of use just chooses to not move on, but rather drown themselves in something we call grief and sorrow. I've learned to have low expectations; things don't always go as planned. I feel as if that actually makes it feel less hard to move on with that kind of thinking. I discover that Macy not like that, but she thinks in a way that moving on is like an obstacle almost nobody can achieve. I believe that moving on is something we do on free will, not something we can control. Even as you're sitting around and moping, it's just a cycle of moving on. Moving on is something that gets us from one thing to the other. Moving on is a way of life.
The one major thing that makes me worry about Macy is that she lives to be perfect. She thinks that being perfect can erase all of her past and mistakes. Surprisingly, I have once thought that too. I thought that being perfect could put me in a better position. Here's a line I'm going to steal from Macy:
''It takes a lot of work to be perfect. If you didn't want to break a sweat, there was no point in even bothering.''
She believes in being perfect and it's even sometimes scary how far she would take it. In reality, there is no perfect. Perfect is just as obtainable as normal is. Everyone makes a mistake or maybe even some sort of a mistake, so seeking perfectness is not only waste of time, but it proves that you're oblivious to the real world. I had once sought perfection and found nothing, but emptiness. Perfection, like the word normal, is not a word to describe humans, but something that will never be revealed. Philosophically, there is no perfection. We all live as humans who can be clumsy and unreadable. Even God's existence is flawed; there is no way of knowing the truth about Him and maybe it's already a mistake to believe in him. Guess Bokononism (the belief that all religions are fake) can be applied.
So, again, this book is really heart touching and warm. You don't have to open up to it, this book will open up to you. This book is powerful and such a book deserves more audience. Open it and experience what I did and you'll feel a strong pull to all the characters, including Macy, in this book.
I've always loved Sarah Dessen books and I've got to say, this book is the best out of all of them. This book truly touches your heart while giving you a glimpse of what's really life. This book will connect with your mind and soul whilst bringing you a place so familiar, you could call it home. I love this book because of it's balance between love and friendship. Everything is laid out perfectly in this book and page after page, you'll realize that you were caught up in the midst of these carefully laid out emotions. Stunning details and a glorious story that will shine right through you. So let us travel aboard a story that will touch your heart. Here, there is nothing but bits of friendship, being heard, opening up, moving on, and why even, trying to be perfect.
I honestly can't imagine how my life would be without friends, even the bad friends. My idea of a friend is someone you can lean on, but someone that can on lean you as well. Macy, the main character, is the girl who has never really had a real friend and I can see that she wants one- badly. My past isn't pretty, and neither is Macy's. I've never had real friends who liked me for who I was, and I never cared since hey, at least I had friends, but that is definitely not the case. This book has taught me that we all deserve someone in our lives that makes us feel special. It can't always be us trying to improve people that won't even glance our way more than once. I love how Macy basically symbolizes every one of us that can't seem to find a real friendship.Macy seems to adapt to her new friends faster than she had when she met her old friends. Isn't that a sign already that friends are supposed to make you feel good and that they're not here to make you feel lower than them? Nobody's perfect, much less friends, but we can all strive to always be there for each other. But when you think about it philosophically, nothing is real, nothing is true. We can only try to make the best of what we can; it's what being friends about.
Being heard; the skill I've never learned to accommodate. I have never, ever, had a loud enough voice to make people listen. And when people did listen, they would think that my words didn't really matter. I've rarely chosen to say something, so I'm rarely heard. Trust me, I know how it feels like to want to tell someone something, but actually end up withdrawing. I can tell Macy has the same problem too: she's afraid someone will really listen, but not understand. She's afraid of breaking out of her shell. That's another part of Macy's problem: she's scared that people would think of her differently if she was to speak what was on her mind. She's controlled by other people's thoughts, not her own. She wants to seem the most normal human being alive. But truth is, there is no normal. We're all us. I was grown up to believe everyone was different and that's how I see things. If no two humans are alike, then how come ''most of us'' are being classified as normal? Normal is a word that isn't to describe society. Normal is not real and it will never be obtained.
Opening up is yes, another problem. Recently, I've learned that opening up is not just a way of expressing yourself, but a way of telling what you've been hiding. I like opening up, but I almost always draw back into the dark without saying a word. Macy is the same and it's almost comforting to have someone like her to be experiencing the same problems I am. Macy lets others tell her what to say and again, they basically controls her. She has no grasp on her own life. Morally, she knows what is right; she just doesn't care which side she takes: bad or good. She doesn't even know who she is and so she thinks that she can't tell about her secrets and holes inside of her. Of course, it's her choice, but opening up just can't be done for her. But as I continue this story, I learn that opening up is more like a transition rather than a decision.
The sequel to opening up is of course, moving on. Everyone can move on, everyone actually does, in the logical sense. We all forget sooner or later and it's definitely not a transition nor is it a decision. It's something your body does continuously. But the majority of use just chooses to not move on, but rather drown themselves in something we call grief and sorrow. I've learned to have low expectations; things don't always go as planned. I feel as if that actually makes it feel less hard to move on with that kind of thinking. I discover that Macy not like that, but she thinks in a way that moving on is like an obstacle almost nobody can achieve. I believe that moving on is something we do on free will, not something we can control. Even as you're sitting around and moping, it's just a cycle of moving on. Moving on is something that gets us from one thing to the other. Moving on is a way of life.
The one major thing that makes me worry about Macy is that she lives to be perfect. She thinks that being perfect can erase all of her past and mistakes. Surprisingly, I have once thought that too. I thought that being perfect could put me in a better position. Here's a line I'm going to steal from Macy:
''It takes a lot of work to be perfect. If you didn't want to break a sweat, there was no point in even bothering.''
She believes in being perfect and it's even sometimes scary how far she would take it. In reality, there is no perfect. Perfect is just as obtainable as normal is. Everyone makes a mistake or maybe even some sort of a mistake, so seeking perfectness is not only waste of time, but it proves that you're oblivious to the real world. I had once sought perfection and found nothing, but emptiness. Perfection, like the word normal, is not a word to describe humans, but something that will never be revealed. Philosophically, there is no perfection. We all live as humans who can be clumsy and unreadable. Even God's existence is flawed; there is no way of knowing the truth about Him and maybe it's already a mistake to believe in him. Guess Bokononism (the belief that all religions are fake) can be applied.
So, again, this book is really heart touching and warm. You don't have to open up to it, this book will open up to you. This book is powerful and such a book deserves more audience. Open it and experience what I did and you'll feel a strong pull to all the characters, including Macy, in this book.
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Weekly Blog Post: The Boyfriend List
The Boyfriend List by E. Lockhart
I'd like to say that this book is the only book that actually can relate to most of us in this gigantic world, but I can't, since there are numerous amounts of books that I have not even laid a finger on yet. So I'll just say that this book is amazing, baffling, and astonishing. I've never read a book that had so much relations to myself and yet so much difference. Please open this book, and I mean please; you're not going to regret it, I promise you. Everything that you learn in this book will never be forgotten. Hence, why don't we start on this fabulous adventure? A story of friendship, honesty, self-discovery, acceptance, and forgiving and forgetting awaits.
I'm not good at friendships, I'll tell you that. I get betrayed, I feel jealousy, I can back-stab. That's why I love Ruby (the main character) so much; she does everything her own way, even if it's wrong. I've never learned how to stay perfectly nice and normal in a friendship; sure, sometimes it's irritating, but most of the time, it's unstoppable. Bad friends, good friends; all labels, but are they really that necessary? I know in a way that all my friends are just doing what they think is best; not what anybody else thinks. So when Ruby gets told off by her best friend and her group of friends, I can really see the short fumes all of her friends have. I know Ruby is not a perfect person and if even I can accept her, why can't her own friends accept her? I've always seen friendship as a thing that's easy to bend and break and I know that sometimes we bend it way too hard. And maybe Ruby did bend a little more than everyone else, but that's her way of living and making a friendship. What she's done is right, in her point of view. There is no right and there is no wrong; there's only the road that you choose to take.
I've never had a voice inside me, never. When I got into challenges that I couldn't overcome, I would give up and cower in fear. Sometimes I wouldn't even be able to tell the truth; I would just lie or say nothing. Ruby is the kind of girl that I am; shy, voiceless, powerless. Over the years, I've learned that speaking up guarantees you an image that makes you seem strong and powerful; Ruby has learned too. Ruby is the girl who you would identify as not too opinionated, but too weak. She really never speaks of her own thoughts; instead, she wells them up in her heart where she can't tell anyone. And sad enough, I'm just like her. I like to think that I'm not afraid to speak and not afraid to tell the world what's really up, but truth is, I'm as scared as Ruby. I guess our modernized society had taught me that no one really cares, no matter how much they seem like it. So I wonder, is it really my fault that I've been taunted by society? Or can we blame society? Well, I believe that everyone has influenced society itself and that's why everybody's so scared and just... threatened by it. Honesty is the best policy, but who says it's the best inspiration?
Speaking of everyone these days, I would like to say that every single person on Earth is led by other people. They are influenced, pressured, taught by other people; not themselves. It hurts me severely to know that Ruby is just like that. I'm pretty much all for being myself and I must admit, it is hard. Everyone's always doing what the majority is doing and that leaves no space for themselves and definitely no place for self-discovery. I hate to say this, but everyone is dependent on each other. There's no way of being without another person there for us to cope with. Ruby is the girl who will do anything to be known, to be popular; even if it means that she would have to do things she never, ever thought of doing. She worries about perfect, good-for-nothing people and they're who Ruby truly wants to be. So again: did we really do this to society? Is our world really this shallow? I'm starting to believe so, I fear. Personalities and love are being thrown out for looks and wealth.
As for Ruby wanting to be anything, but a social outcast, she reminds me of my own life. You see, accepting others is not easy and particularly hard for others. I've gotten used to names and insults because of my looks, my race, and even because of how I laugh. I mean, how superficial are we, people? I know exactly what Ruby is feeling and I know it's not a good feeling to have. All Ruby wants to be is popular and to be easily accepted but what she doesn't know is what she really wants in life. She can't help but impact on other people's opinions. She's scared of being hurt and rejected, but in while she's busy trying to get ''hot'' and known, she's really hurting herself. She can't see that her life is based on other people's views and thoughts. And that's just how easy it is to get affected by acceptance. I try to believe that we are all the same things and we're all equal, but everyday, someone or something changes that thought. I'm struggling, just like Ruby, to get the respect I deserve.
This theme is the topic that I've been aching to tell you about: forgiving and forgetting. My friend always tells me this and sometimes she even uses it to go against me, but when I think about it, it's not at all easy to forget, much less forgive. I've had obstacles thrown at me and troubles I've strained to get rid of and they always be a permanent part of my brain; they not only remind me daily that I've faced harder times, but they show me that life isn't always a dream. So, by now, you probably think I'm an evil person who never seems to forget about anything, but I'm just speaking in the view of Ruby's friends. I know that back-stabbing the evil term here and how when it really happens, all your good memories can be completely erased. I just wonder how and why some people aren't able to forgive. Forgiveness is a present that can never be bought and that's what's so special about it. I've forgave about a hundred mistakes other people made and Ruby has too. She learns along the way that to forgive one person, you must understand the person. I've never received completely 100 percent of understanding and so I've never given it, but even a little bit of understanding goes a long way. Understanding is a thing you can always try to do, even if you end up failing.
This book was not only satisfying, but understanding (wink-wink), humorous, and usually perceived by the mind as ''unforgettable''. You're going to love this book and the emotions dug deep inside it. Authentic and sincere, Ruby will never leave you in this book.
I'd like to say that this book is the only book that actually can relate to most of us in this gigantic world, but I can't, since there are numerous amounts of books that I have not even laid a finger on yet. So I'll just say that this book is amazing, baffling, and astonishing. I've never read a book that had so much relations to myself and yet so much difference. Please open this book, and I mean please; you're not going to regret it, I promise you. Everything that you learn in this book will never be forgotten. Hence, why don't we start on this fabulous adventure? A story of friendship, honesty, self-discovery, acceptance, and forgiving and forgetting awaits.
I'm not good at friendships, I'll tell you that. I get betrayed, I feel jealousy, I can back-stab. That's why I love Ruby (the main character) so much; she does everything her own way, even if it's wrong. I've never learned how to stay perfectly nice and normal in a friendship; sure, sometimes it's irritating, but most of the time, it's unstoppable. Bad friends, good friends; all labels, but are they really that necessary? I know in a way that all my friends are just doing what they think is best; not what anybody else thinks. So when Ruby gets told off by her best friend and her group of friends, I can really see the short fumes all of her friends have. I know Ruby is not a perfect person and if even I can accept her, why can't her own friends accept her? I've always seen friendship as a thing that's easy to bend and break and I know that sometimes we bend it way too hard. And maybe Ruby did bend a little more than everyone else, but that's her way of living and making a friendship. What she's done is right, in her point of view. There is no right and there is no wrong; there's only the road that you choose to take.
I've never had a voice inside me, never. When I got into challenges that I couldn't overcome, I would give up and cower in fear. Sometimes I wouldn't even be able to tell the truth; I would just lie or say nothing. Ruby is the kind of girl that I am; shy, voiceless, powerless. Over the years, I've learned that speaking up guarantees you an image that makes you seem strong and powerful; Ruby has learned too. Ruby is the girl who you would identify as not too opinionated, but too weak. She really never speaks of her own thoughts; instead, she wells them up in her heart where she can't tell anyone. And sad enough, I'm just like her. I like to think that I'm not afraid to speak and not afraid to tell the world what's really up, but truth is, I'm as scared as Ruby. I guess our modernized society had taught me that no one really cares, no matter how much they seem like it. So I wonder, is it really my fault that I've been taunted by society? Or can we blame society? Well, I believe that everyone has influenced society itself and that's why everybody's so scared and just... threatened by it. Honesty is the best policy, but who says it's the best inspiration?
Speaking of everyone these days, I would like to say that every single person on Earth is led by other people. They are influenced, pressured, taught by other people; not themselves. It hurts me severely to know that Ruby is just like that. I'm pretty much all for being myself and I must admit, it is hard. Everyone's always doing what the majority is doing and that leaves no space for themselves and definitely no place for self-discovery. I hate to say this, but everyone is dependent on each other. There's no way of being without another person there for us to cope with. Ruby is the girl who will do anything to be known, to be popular; even if it means that she would have to do things she never, ever thought of doing. She worries about perfect, good-for-nothing people and they're who Ruby truly wants to be. So again: did we really do this to society? Is our world really this shallow? I'm starting to believe so, I fear. Personalities and love are being thrown out for looks and wealth.
As for Ruby wanting to be anything, but a social outcast, she reminds me of my own life. You see, accepting others is not easy and particularly hard for others. I've gotten used to names and insults because of my looks, my race, and even because of how I laugh. I mean, how superficial are we, people? I know exactly what Ruby is feeling and I know it's not a good feeling to have. All Ruby wants to be is popular and to be easily accepted but what she doesn't know is what she really wants in life. She can't help but impact on other people's opinions. She's scared of being hurt and rejected, but in while she's busy trying to get ''hot'' and known, she's really hurting herself. She can't see that her life is based on other people's views and thoughts. And that's just how easy it is to get affected by acceptance. I try to believe that we are all the same things and we're all equal, but everyday, someone or something changes that thought. I'm struggling, just like Ruby, to get the respect I deserve.
This theme is the topic that I've been aching to tell you about: forgiving and forgetting. My friend always tells me this and sometimes she even uses it to go against me, but when I think about it, it's not at all easy to forget, much less forgive. I've had obstacles thrown at me and troubles I've strained to get rid of and they always be a permanent part of my brain; they not only remind me daily that I've faced harder times, but they show me that life isn't always a dream. So, by now, you probably think I'm an evil person who never seems to forget about anything, but I'm just speaking in the view of Ruby's friends. I know that back-stabbing the evil term here and how when it really happens, all your good memories can be completely erased. I just wonder how and why some people aren't able to forgive. Forgiveness is a present that can never be bought and that's what's so special about it. I've forgave about a hundred mistakes other people made and Ruby has too. She learns along the way that to forgive one person, you must understand the person. I've never received completely 100 percent of understanding and so I've never given it, but even a little bit of understanding goes a long way. Understanding is a thing you can always try to do, even if you end up failing.
This book was not only satisfying, but understanding (wink-wink), humorous, and usually perceived by the mind as ''unforgettable''. You're going to love this book and the emotions dug deep inside it. Authentic and sincere, Ruby will never leave you in this book.
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Weekly Blog Post: Shanghai Girls
Shanghai Girls by Lisa See
Another beautiful book is told yet again. This story of two Shanghai girls astonished me and touched not only my heart, but my mind too. Not too often do you find a book that does that. And so I open this book to wonders that are portrayed in the mid-1900's. This is a story that will sweep you off of your feet; that will bring you to a place so unfamiliar that you'll feel as if you were transported to there. This is a powerful novel that you won't ever let go. So jump into this moving story of family, appreciation, responsibility, friendship, and of course: remembering where you come from.
When I think of family these days, I think of problems. Problems that would arise if one were to make that crack in my family. I've learned that family is a fragile thing and I can tell that Pearl and May- the two Shanghai girls- learns that too. But occasionally I don't think of problems in my family, but I just think of how my family will always be there for me, no matter what. Pearl and May are sisters and they learn to lean on each other; along with learning to cry on each others shoulders.They depend on each other and that makes me see the bond they have with each other; it's truly ravishing. But their relationship with their parents is distant (much like mine) and it hurts to see two girls who try so hard to love their parents, but their parents only seem to notice them once in a while. Pearl and May try hard to be obedient daughters and they try to respect their parents, but it's like their parents are oblivious to them. And yes, that's very much like my relationship with my parents and I guess every teenager's parents as well. It's like that feeling of never accomplishing something and it aggravates me to see myself try so hard to just receive a simple ''Okay.''. It's a delicate emotion, but that doesn't mean it's difficult to obtain.
Now, when I think of never being able to make (some) people happy, I start to think whether they appreciate me or not. I do well in school, believe me, and I try to help out around my family, but it's that feeling of invisibility that drives me wild. So I can really feel Pearl and May; they only want to be noticed. But the thing is that they don't appreciate their parents just as much. I mean, I wouldn't be one bit upset if my dad was the richest man in the country, I lived in a huge mansion with servants, and I was a ''beautiful girl'' in Shanghai. I see how Pearl and May suffer from never being given the parental love they were supposed to receive, but they're vain; cold and they can't seem to think about the feelings of others. I wish they would see that they're already living a luxurious life with no distressing past at all. Somehow they make me think of myself though. My parents have always been there for me and I've never once thought about what would happen if everything left me. Nowadays, my parents work long, harsh hours just to see me have a future, but sometimes I can't think about it- it's just too... painful. In a way, I am Pearl and May; the girls who try to fight their way out of miserable thoughts. They never think of something bad that could ever happen in their life- never did they once did they imagine their lives spilling out like a bag of marbles; and of course, the unimaginable happens.
Don't get me wrong, Pearl and May know exactly where they stand and they know what they have to do. So when I see these two sisters try their best for a shot at their future, I see that they're not afraid to fight. I'm the type of person who speaks with words; not actions. So you can see that I'm not good at being responsible; I've been everywhere from broken promises to taking the blame. I've learned that not everyone can keep responsibilities and it is hard. Pearl and May are responsible for where they are now and it's a wonder to see where they had ended up. I have always been responsible for something and if I was accused of doing something wrong, I would take the blame on myself. I've grown up thinking that my responsibility was to take the blame for something and then never doing it again. Then I realized that everyone has responsibilities; so everyone has a part in the blame. So I've been where Pearl and May has been; a place where you feel as if the whole world is weighted on your very own shoulders.
When I was in Elementary School, I realized what a cold, cold person one could be. I am of Asian descent and therefore I had a dozen kids at my school make fun of me and tease me. What I didn't understand was why they were doing this to me; not once did I tease another person simply because of his or her's race. I've learned at a young age that everyone's the same, no matter what the race (huge cliche, ha ha). I see that Pearl and May has grown up thinking something else different in terms of race and maybe that's why they suffer so much when they arrive in a whole new world: San Francisco. They try hard to avoid the lo fan or the Whites so they wouldn't get caught then get sent back; they try to bear with being in a whole new position in a newly found place. They try to make to make friends (much like me trying to make friends with people that I later learned would never like me), but instead they are rejected by society and only accepted by their new in-law family. I see these two girls as two people trying to just get by, but they are merely kicked out of the world that they have fought so hard to get there.
Many times in my life have my family called me a chok sing which basically means hollow bamboo. And the reason they call me this? It's because they think I'm too Americanized and far more American than Chinese. Whenever they call me this, I can only think of where I come from and how I will remember it. Now, Pearl and May, these two girls don't give up on being Shanghai girls; they fight for their culture and although they struggle while doing this, you know what they are: modern, beautiful, Shanghai girls. And you're reminded on every page that Pearl and May grasp a strong hold to who they are and where they have come from. I wish I could be like that; so headstrong in my culture in race, but I don't think that way. I only think of being different from my culture (something that Pearl tries to do while holding on to her old culture). I can't remember lots of bits from my childhood anymore; it frightens me that I barely know myself. Pearl and May; these two are each others memories of their old life; their only memory. So even though they're building to their future right at this moment; they're still memories and postcards of the past.
The is a powerful book you'll never in your life forget. This outstanding story of family and the bonds that tie you together to make one is unforgettable. In this story, you'll see two girls with everything transform to two girls that are just trying to survive. This pragmatic book will hand over to you a tale of two beautiful, glorious girls who aren't just girls, but Shanghai Girls.
Another beautiful book is told yet again. This story of two Shanghai girls astonished me and touched not only my heart, but my mind too. Not too often do you find a book that does that. And so I open this book to wonders that are portrayed in the mid-1900's. This is a story that will sweep you off of your feet; that will bring you to a place so unfamiliar that you'll feel as if you were transported to there. This is a powerful novel that you won't ever let go. So jump into this moving story of family, appreciation, responsibility, friendship, and of course: remembering where you come from.
When I think of family these days, I think of problems. Problems that would arise if one were to make that crack in my family. I've learned that family is a fragile thing and I can tell that Pearl and May- the two Shanghai girls- learns that too. But occasionally I don't think of problems in my family, but I just think of how my family will always be there for me, no matter what. Pearl and May are sisters and they learn to lean on each other; along with learning to cry on each others shoulders.They depend on each other and that makes me see the bond they have with each other; it's truly ravishing. But their relationship with their parents is distant (much like mine) and it hurts to see two girls who try so hard to love their parents, but their parents only seem to notice them once in a while. Pearl and May try hard to be obedient daughters and they try to respect their parents, but it's like their parents are oblivious to them. And yes, that's very much like my relationship with my parents and I guess every teenager's parents as well. It's like that feeling of never accomplishing something and it aggravates me to see myself try so hard to just receive a simple ''Okay.''. It's a delicate emotion, but that doesn't mean it's difficult to obtain.
Now, when I think of never being able to make (some) people happy, I start to think whether they appreciate me or not. I do well in school, believe me, and I try to help out around my family, but it's that feeling of invisibility that drives me wild. So I can really feel Pearl and May; they only want to be noticed. But the thing is that they don't appreciate their parents just as much. I mean, I wouldn't be one bit upset if my dad was the richest man in the country, I lived in a huge mansion with servants, and I was a ''beautiful girl'' in Shanghai. I see how Pearl and May suffer from never being given the parental love they were supposed to receive, but they're vain; cold and they can't seem to think about the feelings of others. I wish they would see that they're already living a luxurious life with no distressing past at all. Somehow they make me think of myself though. My parents have always been there for me and I've never once thought about what would happen if everything left me. Nowadays, my parents work long, harsh hours just to see me have a future, but sometimes I can't think about it- it's just too... painful. In a way, I am Pearl and May; the girls who try to fight their way out of miserable thoughts. They never think of something bad that could ever happen in their life- never did they once did they imagine their lives spilling out like a bag of marbles; and of course, the unimaginable happens.
Don't get me wrong, Pearl and May know exactly where they stand and they know what they have to do. So when I see these two sisters try their best for a shot at their future, I see that they're not afraid to fight. I'm the type of person who speaks with words; not actions. So you can see that I'm not good at being responsible; I've been everywhere from broken promises to taking the blame. I've learned that not everyone can keep responsibilities and it is hard. Pearl and May are responsible for where they are now and it's a wonder to see where they had ended up. I have always been responsible for something and if I was accused of doing something wrong, I would take the blame on myself. I've grown up thinking that my responsibility was to take the blame for something and then never doing it again. Then I realized that everyone has responsibilities; so everyone has a part in the blame. So I've been where Pearl and May has been; a place where you feel as if the whole world is weighted on your very own shoulders.
When I was in Elementary School, I realized what a cold, cold person one could be. I am of Asian descent and therefore I had a dozen kids at my school make fun of me and tease me. What I didn't understand was why they were doing this to me; not once did I tease another person simply because of his or her's race. I've learned at a young age that everyone's the same, no matter what the race (huge cliche, ha ha). I see that Pearl and May has grown up thinking something else different in terms of race and maybe that's why they suffer so much when they arrive in a whole new world: San Francisco. They try hard to avoid the lo fan or the Whites so they wouldn't get caught then get sent back; they try to bear with being in a whole new position in a newly found place. They try to make to make friends (much like me trying to make friends with people that I later learned would never like me), but instead they are rejected by society and only accepted by their new in-law family. I see these two girls as two people trying to just get by, but they are merely kicked out of the world that they have fought so hard to get there.
Many times in my life have my family called me a chok sing which basically means hollow bamboo. And the reason they call me this? It's because they think I'm too Americanized and far more American than Chinese. Whenever they call me this, I can only think of where I come from and how I will remember it. Now, Pearl and May, these two girls don't give up on being Shanghai girls; they fight for their culture and although they struggle while doing this, you know what they are: modern, beautiful, Shanghai girls. And you're reminded on every page that Pearl and May grasp a strong hold to who they are and where they have come from. I wish I could be like that; so headstrong in my culture in race, but I don't think that way. I only think of being different from my culture (something that Pearl tries to do while holding on to her old culture). I can't remember lots of bits from my childhood anymore; it frightens me that I barely know myself. Pearl and May; these two are each others memories of their old life; their only memory. So even though they're building to their future right at this moment; they're still memories and postcards of the past.
The is a powerful book you'll never in your life forget. This outstanding story of family and the bonds that tie you together to make one is unforgettable. In this story, you'll see two girls with everything transform to two girls that are just trying to survive. This pragmatic book will hand over to you a tale of two beautiful, glorious girls who aren't just girls, but Shanghai Girls.
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Weekly Blog Post: A Walk To Remember
A Walk To Remember by Nicholas Sparks
There was a time when the world was sweeter... when the women in Beaufort, North Carolina wore dresses, and the men donned hats... And so begins another touching and satisfying Sparks novel. I'm already used to his fascinating work, but this book was completely and utterly great. So touching, it gave me goosebumps. The extraordinary story of a boy and girl had never been told like this and you will never, ever forget this book. So dive into the wonders of young love, second chances, friendship, regret, and wait for it- believing in yourself, in miracles, and anything that can happen.
Young love: probably the most bland topic to talk about ever since Romeo and Juliet. But revisit the magical possibilities of young love in this book between two people that never could've been paired together before. First, meet Landon Carter, the bad boy who's had a nice reputation. Now meet Jamie Sullivan, the girl who's never broke a single rule in her life and has always stayed on the boundaries of being the perfect daughter- and student. When I think about their relationship, I think stereotypes. This story is actually told in the late 1950's and even then there were major stereotypes. Think about today, where stereotypes lurk in every corner. But not only do I think about stereotypes, but I think about how lovely it would be to just be with someone who's completely different from who you are. I've always been with friends that could relate to this and relate to that, but I never had a friend that was not my type. Ha ha, not my type. Again with the stereotypes! But like I was saying before, all my friends were on the same page as I was so when Landon fell for Jamie, I felt, I don't know..., out of place. I can see their relationship is out of place too, with all the fights and disagreements, but then again, this is young love.
So you can really see that Landon and Jamie don't get along too well, but they're doing okay... And it's
only a matter of time before someone does something that makes the relationship topple over. That night when Landon finally blurts out everything he's been feeling about Jamie ever since he's been hanging out with her, he doesn't feel good. I wouldn't either, I mean, what he said was more than insulting and humiliating. But what doesn't surprise me is that Landon's friends had caused him to have this outburst; teasing about him and Jamie being a couple, taunting him about it... It's the basic stereotype thing everyone knows: the popular guy should be with the popular girl, not with the girl who carries the Bible around her everywhere. I can remember liking someone way out of my league and it's hurtful and you can't just forgive and forget about it that easily. I felt so embarrassed and mortified and really, everything that Jamie felt that night when Landon yelled at her. But forgiving is like moving on; once you do it, you have to forget about the past. So it's also about giving second chances just so you could forgive and forget; not mope around all day trying to make yourself feel better.
My friends, the ones who I've cherished until they began to go against me. Hard to accept, but you know you have to go against them to. So when Landon really begins to ''rebel'' against his friends, it's hard for him, you can see it. But maybe friends go away so you can learn to let go. Everything happens for a reason, right? So anyway, Landon begins to truly enjoy life without trying to please everyone with this pressuring society on his back. He lets go and he's himself, really himself. I miss the old person that I used to be, but what can I say? That it's too late to change? No. I used to not care about what everyone thought and lived life without trying to make everyone happy while I was truly unhappy. Now you guess where I'm at right now. Landon seems so happy without all his friends on his back and that's what made me realize that everybody noticed you. No matter what you did, someone would notice you. And everyone could either be there for you or just desert you. But Landon's friends, you can see that his friends truly do love him, and it's so riveting to see this friendship move just as it used to.
Over these years, I seem to regret more and more often. So it's really sweet to meet a guy who doesn't regret anything: Landon. Over taunts, teases, and mocks, Landon is still quite proud of meeting Jamie. I love how he refuses to give in and he's still proud of things that had happened. I'm always thinking back and trying to fix everything, but sometimes it's easier to just go with the flow. I try to forget and try hard to not regret, but sometimes terrifying thoughts end up inside my head once more. But maybe regretting is just trying to make you remember all the things you've done. Regret makes sure that you won't forget so it won't happen again. I think of the past way more often than you think and it's scary to move on. It's scary to know that one day you'll forget everything so regret traps these thoughts inside your head. So like Landon, I try to obtain everything that's happened- just so I wouldn't ever forget.
Miracles; one word with so much meaning in it. I used to think they were stupid and made up, but these days I'm starting to actually rely on miracles- just like Landon. Landon has lots of wrongs that I haven't mentioned of touched on, but the main problem is him always doubting himself in numerous situations. He's pessimistic, really and somehow, he reminds me of myself. I'm always trying to think of worst case scenarios just so I wouldn't be let down, but then I see that it's hurting me. I don't even have enough strength to believe in myself most of the time. Now Jamie, she never fails to succeed in anything she does, and throughout the book, some of her optimistic side actually rubs off on me. I never believed that I could make anything happen, and sometimes it really made me see life an obstacle that I could never sustain. But Landon; he believes more and more in himself, in miracles, and in all the possibilities in the world and he does it for Jamie. He changes his views and perspective on life and it helps him live through everything- even 40 years later.
So when reading this book, just remember to believe. Anything, no matter what, can happen. This book had taught me a lesson no person, much less a book, could've taught me. This book is amazing and it's going to change you- you've been warned.
There was a time when the world was sweeter... when the women in Beaufort, North Carolina wore dresses, and the men donned hats... And so begins another touching and satisfying Sparks novel. I'm already used to his fascinating work, but this book was completely and utterly great. So touching, it gave me goosebumps. The extraordinary story of a boy and girl had never been told like this and you will never, ever forget this book. So dive into the wonders of young love, second chances, friendship, regret, and wait for it- believing in yourself, in miracles, and anything that can happen.
Young love: probably the most bland topic to talk about ever since Romeo and Juliet. But revisit the magical possibilities of young love in this book between two people that never could've been paired together before. First, meet Landon Carter, the bad boy who's had a nice reputation. Now meet Jamie Sullivan, the girl who's never broke a single rule in her life and has always stayed on the boundaries of being the perfect daughter- and student. When I think about their relationship, I think stereotypes. This story is actually told in the late 1950's and even then there were major stereotypes. Think about today, where stereotypes lurk in every corner. But not only do I think about stereotypes, but I think about how lovely it would be to just be with someone who's completely different from who you are. I've always been with friends that could relate to this and relate to that, but I never had a friend that was not my type. Ha ha, not my type. Again with the stereotypes! But like I was saying before, all my friends were on the same page as I was so when Landon fell for Jamie, I felt, I don't know..., out of place. I can see their relationship is out of place too, with all the fights and disagreements, but then again, this is young love.
So you can really see that Landon and Jamie don't get along too well, but they're doing okay... And it's
only a matter of time before someone does something that makes the relationship topple over. That night when Landon finally blurts out everything he's been feeling about Jamie ever since he's been hanging out with her, he doesn't feel good. I wouldn't either, I mean, what he said was more than insulting and humiliating. But what doesn't surprise me is that Landon's friends had caused him to have this outburst; teasing about him and Jamie being a couple, taunting him about it... It's the basic stereotype thing everyone knows: the popular guy should be with the popular girl, not with the girl who carries the Bible around her everywhere. I can remember liking someone way out of my league and it's hurtful and you can't just forgive and forget about it that easily. I felt so embarrassed and mortified and really, everything that Jamie felt that night when Landon yelled at her. But forgiving is like moving on; once you do it, you have to forget about the past. So it's also about giving second chances just so you could forgive and forget; not mope around all day trying to make yourself feel better.
My friends, the ones who I've cherished until they began to go against me. Hard to accept, but you know you have to go against them to. So when Landon really begins to ''rebel'' against his friends, it's hard for him, you can see it. But maybe friends go away so you can learn to let go. Everything happens for a reason, right? So anyway, Landon begins to truly enjoy life without trying to please everyone with this pressuring society on his back. He lets go and he's himself, really himself. I miss the old person that I used to be, but what can I say? That it's too late to change? No. I used to not care about what everyone thought and lived life without trying to make everyone happy while I was truly unhappy. Now you guess where I'm at right now. Landon seems so happy without all his friends on his back and that's what made me realize that everybody noticed you. No matter what you did, someone would notice you. And everyone could either be there for you or just desert you. But Landon's friends, you can see that his friends truly do love him, and it's so riveting to see this friendship move just as it used to.
Over these years, I seem to regret more and more often. So it's really sweet to meet a guy who doesn't regret anything: Landon. Over taunts, teases, and mocks, Landon is still quite proud of meeting Jamie. I love how he refuses to give in and he's still proud of things that had happened. I'm always thinking back and trying to fix everything, but sometimes it's easier to just go with the flow. I try to forget and try hard to not regret, but sometimes terrifying thoughts end up inside my head once more. But maybe regretting is just trying to make you remember all the things you've done. Regret makes sure that you won't forget so it won't happen again. I think of the past way more often than you think and it's scary to move on. It's scary to know that one day you'll forget everything so regret traps these thoughts inside your head. So like Landon, I try to obtain everything that's happened- just so I wouldn't ever forget.
Miracles; one word with so much meaning in it. I used to think they were stupid and made up, but these days I'm starting to actually rely on miracles- just like Landon. Landon has lots of wrongs that I haven't mentioned of touched on, but the main problem is him always doubting himself in numerous situations. He's pessimistic, really and somehow, he reminds me of myself. I'm always trying to think of worst case scenarios just so I wouldn't be let down, but then I see that it's hurting me. I don't even have enough strength to believe in myself most of the time. Now Jamie, she never fails to succeed in anything she does, and throughout the book, some of her optimistic side actually rubs off on me. I never believed that I could make anything happen, and sometimes it really made me see life an obstacle that I could never sustain. But Landon; he believes more and more in himself, in miracles, and in all the possibilities in the world and he does it for Jamie. He changes his views and perspective on life and it helps him live through everything- even 40 years later.
So when reading this book, just remember to believe. Anything, no matter what, can happen. This book had taught me a lesson no person, much less a book, could've taught me. This book is amazing and it's going to change you- you've been warned.
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Weekly Blog Post: Dairy Queen
Dairy Queen by Catherine Gilbert Murdock
Spoiler Alert
This book will be the most real and genuine book you will ever find. Why? Not because the characters are relating and just like you (thankfully, because I was getting tired of those characters), but because this girl right here, D.J, is a heroine. She is the weirdest girl you will ever find, trust me, but this is what makes her so, so... right. I mean, I can't even imagine D.J being anyone else, but herself. But what is she? No matter what you think of her, it all comes down to this: She's a diligent farm girl who plays football and is basically a person who doesn't always get guys. Don't you like her already? I wouldn't ever find this girl in a story, but here she is. D.J Schwenk. The kind of girl who you'll never meet on a daily basis. But you'll never forget this loving and heartwarming story of family, acceptance, stereotypes, honesty, and love.
D.J's family is... odd. They make her cry, make her happy, and make her wake up at 5 in the morning everyday. But when I read this book, I saw that her family wasn't really family, but just friends that live with her. D.J seems like a complete outsider. And I can tell you that being an outsider is not good. A month or so ago, my friend told me that I was so different from my family. Like I was marching to my own drum. I felt a stinging feeling inside me then because I knew that my friend was right. But like D.J, I didn't do much about it anyway. I just went with the flow since I didn't want to say anything. I could, but I didn't. D.J's parents are stringent and thinks that all their children will be futile if they don't follow the right road. D.J was obedient and never dared to speak up until...never. I can see that Mrs. Schwenk and Mr. Schwenk just want the best for D.J, but they don't allow her to make her own choices. And it's not that D.J's being disrespectful or anything like it, but the Schwenks force their children to roads already imprinted. My parents are the very same; they spent all their life hoping that one day, one of their children would be smart and take responsibilities on then get an amazing job. But roads that are already made somethings get paved; just like D.J'S.
How would you feel if one day you learned that your best friend had a secret that she never told? Betrayed, lost, deceived... those were all of what D.J was feeling when she realized that her best and closest friend Amber told her about something she never would've guessed: Amber's lesbian. I have a cousin who's actually lesbian and I know it's hard for her. My father and mother, they all disapprove of that decision. But I know how hard it is to be different; you feel like you can't talk to anyone and you're all alone. And there's the catch: accepting someone who's different. It's hard to truly understand someone, but that's mainly because people don't know how to listen; they talk. D.J is the opposite of that. When Amber first exposes this secret to her, D.J listens, alright, but she can't say anything. She simply doesn't know what to say. When someone tells you this secret that's been kept away for who-knows-how-long, what do you feel? I would be in awe, to be honest. I would be shocked to my bones and probably be frozen right there. So just imagine D.J, the girl who has never talked much, being in that situation. She could've dropped right on her knees. The thing is that people mistake silence for a mere ''no'' or a simple rejection. Silence means awestruck, silence means shock. But just because you're different doesn't mean you're a rejection from society. People can accept, heck, they have to learn to accept.
But some things everyone refuses to let go are stereotypes and breaking them. From this point on can you really imagine D.J having a gorgeous football quarterback boyfriend? Guess not. But that's just the power of stereotypes. Stereotypes are somehow built and molded into your brain and it changes all your views on anything. My neighborhood is full of different races from Muslim to Hispanic. But when I see a Hispanic person walking down the street wearing a do-rag or gang clothing of any sort, I immediately think that that person must be in a gang or that person must be failing badly in school. Thing is, stereotypes are everywhere. I've actually told my friend that her ear piercing was ''stereotypical'' since almost everyone of our race has it. So you must see where I stand when it comes to D.J dating Brian Nelson, the guy that changes D.J's life forever. I think it's sweet and unique, but it's out of the blue. It's even strange. But the football captain doesn't have to always date the pretty cheerleader captain; it can actually be another football player. This book demonstrates that nothing has to be normal to work; sometimes it's the weirdest of a combination.
Honesty has never been my strong side for me. I would rather lie than tell he truth most of the time, but that's just me. But honestly isn't all about secrets and lies, but it's about really speaking up for your own opinions and being honest about it. Sure, I do know some people are way too honest, but D.J is the exact opposite of those kinds of people. She's quiet and her feelings are worthless since they would never be spoken to make a difference. When you don't talk, there's a lot of stuff that ends up being not said. And D.J, she honestly thinks that her opinions and feelings don't weigh too much. So maybe honesty is the best policy or maybe it's just a way of being true to the people you love. I have learned to speak up over these past years and actually be real and true, but not everyone can pull it off like that; I certainly can't. But what you feel is not only for you, but for everyone. So maybe you can be more honest and true, one word at a time.
Ah, love. Isn't everywhere these days? Well, not in D.J's world. She doesn't expect to fall in love, she doesn't expect to actually like Brian and she definitely doesn't expect to actually get along with him. But D.J, this country klutz, falls for this boy who hasn't worked a single hard day in his life, and it's amusing to see such a ''tough'' girl to fall or such a snotty, upper class boy. But anyway, that's just stereotypes speaking. But love isn't always easy. D.J hides in the bushes from Brian just so she could keep this friendship going. She didn't want anything, anything, to go wrong so she made sure there were no wrongs in this relationship. And the price she ad to pay was losing her face, dignity, and yes, honesty right in front of Brian. But through this wacky relationship, you see the two of them grow on each other right before your eyes. It's not that often that I see anyone mold onto a person that they never thought they could even be friends with. So love is unique, and hey, who said love wasn't hard?
D.J was a girl that I thought I would never meet and she was unique, crazy, fun, wild, real, and authentic to herself. She wasn't trying to be anything, but herself. It's hard to find someone like this and it's one in a million if you end up meeting someone like D.J because everyone follows by the rules of society. So when you do meet a person like D.J, say hi to that person for me. D.J can't be anyone else and won't be anyone else, but herself. D.J is a total klutz, but she's still one heck of a person. So really reach to this book and maybe it'll reach to you too.
Spoiler Alert
This book will be the most real and genuine book you will ever find. Why? Not because the characters are relating and just like you (thankfully, because I was getting tired of those characters), but because this girl right here, D.J, is a heroine. She is the weirdest girl you will ever find, trust me, but this is what makes her so, so... right. I mean, I can't even imagine D.J being anyone else, but herself. But what is she? No matter what you think of her, it all comes down to this: She's a diligent farm girl who plays football and is basically a person who doesn't always get guys. Don't you like her already? I wouldn't ever find this girl in a story, but here she is. D.J Schwenk. The kind of girl who you'll never meet on a daily basis. But you'll never forget this loving and heartwarming story of family, acceptance, stereotypes, honesty, and love.
D.J's family is... odd. They make her cry, make her happy, and make her wake up at 5 in the morning everyday. But when I read this book, I saw that her family wasn't really family, but just friends that live with her. D.J seems like a complete outsider. And I can tell you that being an outsider is not good. A month or so ago, my friend told me that I was so different from my family. Like I was marching to my own drum. I felt a stinging feeling inside me then because I knew that my friend was right. But like D.J, I didn't do much about it anyway. I just went with the flow since I didn't want to say anything. I could, but I didn't. D.J's parents are stringent and thinks that all their children will be futile if they don't follow the right road. D.J was obedient and never dared to speak up until...never. I can see that Mrs. Schwenk and Mr. Schwenk just want the best for D.J, but they don't allow her to make her own choices. And it's not that D.J's being disrespectful or anything like it, but the Schwenks force their children to roads already imprinted. My parents are the very same; they spent all their life hoping that one day, one of their children would be smart and take responsibilities on then get an amazing job. But roads that are already made somethings get paved; just like D.J'S.
How would you feel if one day you learned that your best friend had a secret that she never told? Betrayed, lost, deceived... those were all of what D.J was feeling when she realized that her best and closest friend Amber told her about something she never would've guessed: Amber's lesbian. I have a cousin who's actually lesbian and I know it's hard for her. My father and mother, they all disapprove of that decision. But I know how hard it is to be different; you feel like you can't talk to anyone and you're all alone. And there's the catch: accepting someone who's different. It's hard to truly understand someone, but that's mainly because people don't know how to listen; they talk. D.J is the opposite of that. When Amber first exposes this secret to her, D.J listens, alright, but she can't say anything. She simply doesn't know what to say. When someone tells you this secret that's been kept away for who-knows-how-long, what do you feel? I would be in awe, to be honest. I would be shocked to my bones and probably be frozen right there. So just imagine D.J, the girl who has never talked much, being in that situation. She could've dropped right on her knees. The thing is that people mistake silence for a mere ''no'' or a simple rejection. Silence means awestruck, silence means shock. But just because you're different doesn't mean you're a rejection from society. People can accept, heck, they have to learn to accept.
But some things everyone refuses to let go are stereotypes and breaking them. From this point on can you really imagine D.J having a gorgeous football quarterback boyfriend? Guess not. But that's just the power of stereotypes. Stereotypes are somehow built and molded into your brain and it changes all your views on anything. My neighborhood is full of different races from Muslim to Hispanic. But when I see a Hispanic person walking down the street wearing a do-rag or gang clothing of any sort, I immediately think that that person must be in a gang or that person must be failing badly in school. Thing is, stereotypes are everywhere. I've actually told my friend that her ear piercing was ''stereotypical'' since almost everyone of our race has it. So you must see where I stand when it comes to D.J dating Brian Nelson, the guy that changes D.J's life forever. I think it's sweet and unique, but it's out of the blue. It's even strange. But the football captain doesn't have to always date the pretty cheerleader captain; it can actually be another football player. This book demonstrates that nothing has to be normal to work; sometimes it's the weirdest of a combination.
Honesty has never been my strong side for me. I would rather lie than tell he truth most of the time, but that's just me. But honestly isn't all about secrets and lies, but it's about really speaking up for your own opinions and being honest about it. Sure, I do know some people are way too honest, but D.J is the exact opposite of those kinds of people. She's quiet and her feelings are worthless since they would never be spoken to make a difference. When you don't talk, there's a lot of stuff that ends up being not said. And D.J, she honestly thinks that her opinions and feelings don't weigh too much. So maybe honesty is the best policy or maybe it's just a way of being true to the people you love. I have learned to speak up over these past years and actually be real and true, but not everyone can pull it off like that; I certainly can't. But what you feel is not only for you, but for everyone. So maybe you can be more honest and true, one word at a time.
Ah, love. Isn't everywhere these days? Well, not in D.J's world. She doesn't expect to fall in love, she doesn't expect to actually like Brian and she definitely doesn't expect to actually get along with him. But D.J, this country klutz, falls for this boy who hasn't worked a single hard day in his life, and it's amusing to see such a ''tough'' girl to fall or such a snotty, upper class boy. But anyway, that's just stereotypes speaking. But love isn't always easy. D.J hides in the bushes from Brian just so she could keep this friendship going. She didn't want anything, anything, to go wrong so she made sure there were no wrongs in this relationship. And the price she ad to pay was losing her face, dignity, and yes, honesty right in front of Brian. But through this wacky relationship, you see the two of them grow on each other right before your eyes. It's not that often that I see anyone mold onto a person that they never thought they could even be friends with. So love is unique, and hey, who said love wasn't hard?
D.J was a girl that I thought I would never meet and she was unique, crazy, fun, wild, real, and authentic to herself. She wasn't trying to be anything, but herself. It's hard to find someone like this and it's one in a million if you end up meeting someone like D.J because everyone follows by the rules of society. So when you do meet a person like D.J, say hi to that person for me. D.J can't be anyone else and won't be anyone else, but herself. D.J is a total klutz, but she's still one heck of a person. So really reach to this book and maybe it'll reach to you too.
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Weekly Blog Post: The Joy Luck Club
The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan
I remember how I felt when I first got this book; alone, upset, afraid. But when I opened the book, the first thing I felt was comfort. I felt a soothing gentle voice that would lead me all through the book. I have some dark memories that no one would want to hear, but I want to tell you that this book is amazing. It breaks your heart and puts it back together again. And sometimes that's exactly what you need. A book with words so touching that you never really know when you'll start to cry or when you'll start to laugh. This book is so powerful and it will never leave you once you read this book. And don't get me wrong; I'm not only saying this because I'm the same race (Chinese) as the ladies in this book, but because it will really mesmerize you. So come and hear this symphony of family, adolescence, obedience and rebelling, responsibility, appreciation, honestly, forgiveness, and of course, joy.
When you think of adolescence, you really think about growing up and getting to do what you want without someone constantly nagging on you. But even more of that, is learning to really be on your own and independent as you can be. I can tell you straight up that this is hard. I've always grown up with the pressure to do this and that without really making my own choices, but this will actually help you later on in life. You'll always know the right thing to do on your own without anyone telling you to. June, Rose, Waverly, and Lena all embark on this beautiful journey of learning to grow up. I know that growing up and really having no one to support you is hard, but it's a part of learning to be an adult. Parents are strict and I would definitely know that from my own, but later on you realize that everything they had told you to do was for your own good. Now that's definitely a part of adolescence. My parents made me take ballet, piano, and Chinese classes when I was younger. They wanted me to be talented and successful just like the parents of June, Rose, Waverly, and Lena. June's mother was obsessive when it came to June becoming famous from playing piano. Hey, she just wants June to be successful, right? Rose's parents didn't want her to succumb to American lifestyles and certainly just pressured her into it. Waverly's mother made her play chess and win every game whilst bragging to her friends. Lena, well Lena's mother had given her the best, but had scared Lena away from her and Chinese lifestyles. You can see here that those parents and mothers had only wanted their children to be the best when they're older. So maybe just act a little more mature if you have to; it'll pay off.
I bet you that every single person had done something they weren't supposed to. It could've been an accident, it could've been done on purpose. But learning to obey and listen when you have to is respectful and it's just a part of growing up. I always have to do chores or things that I really don't want to do, and it's my choice, but I do it anyway. Although, it's not like I've never rebelled or anything. I would throw tantrums, scream, yell insults that I know that have no meaning, and then cry because life was just so unfair. Sometimes you have do have to break through and really tell that person how you feel. Control is an easy thing to be taken advantage of and maybe you'll just have talk it out. June, Rose, Waverly, and Lena are... not the type of people to say sorry; just like much of the rest of our human population.They yell, they fight, they give the cold shoulder, and they can be grouchy if they want to. But what people have to understand is that you can't just think about your own feelings. If you wanted someone to obey you and they didn't, you can't just get mad, but actually try to feel how they're feeling.
Another branch of adolescence is responsibility. When thinking of responsibility, you have to think of others that would be affected, not just yourself. Just carrying on something like you're supposed to can make things better and day after day, you would get more responsible. No one can really just drop everything and leave. No matter how much everyone wants to do that, they can't. We all know that it's our responsibility to go on with life, even in the hardest of times. None of the girls are really that responsible, but you can always see that they're hesitating to do something. Like, when Rose was trapped in the thought of wanting to get divorced, but way too afraid to speak to her mother about it. When it comes to doing what you have to do, you really have to just get it over with; no matter how painful it is. I remember saying this once to a friend and sometimes I really think that telling people just how you feel is your responsibility. You can't rely on everyone to just know your thoughts; even if they can try to see things from your point of view. Just speak and I'm sure that someone will listen. Someone will always be there for you and that's hard to believe, but just believe it. because your responsibility is to just. live throughout life.
Going back to those ballet and piano classes, I still remember how much I dreaded those classes. Only older did I realize that my mom spent hard earned money just for me so I could have a shot at becoming successful. When I took those classes, I was still very young, and at that time my parents had never really taught me to care about others feelings. And so I didn't appreciate anything. It's hard to imagine a life without your parents there for you and some day they'll be gone. Forever. So really appreciate them; they house you, they feed you, they clothe you. June's mother was fanatical when it came to June playing the piano. She even promised to be the teacher's housekeeper for money so June could play the piano. I don't know about you, but I would appreciate my mother if she had done that.But June defies her mother's wishes for her own and after that, their relationship becomes loose although her mother bought her a piano to make her happy again. June realizes that she should cherish that piano since her mother did buy it for her. It comes to show you that just showing a little bit of appreciation can go a long way.
I had always been the different one of my family; always rebelling, always lying so I could get away from the truth... But why lie when you know that the truth is the easier path? I have asked myself that question so many times that I've actually up of an answer: Because the truth hurts. Just like Rose's hated divorce, just like June's forced love for piano, just like Waverly's forced love for chess. I can still remember every single lie I've told and I still remember how hurt my mother looked when she finally found out the truth. But the truth is, honesty doesn't hurt. Lying and hiding hurts you. Just looking back now, I can see that it took me a long time to finally get that. Just admitting that you were wrong is a long way, and it means that you're not afraid to tell the truth and not afraid to grow up. My lies were drastic and deep and it really cut my relationship with my family in half. Lying is just a way of shielding yourself from the rest of the world; it doesn't really help you. But, yeah, maybe sometimes lying is the easier choice since it won't get you in trouble and what not. Although, who in this world can really stand lying for the rest of their lives? Lying is for the weak, for the ones who are afraid, But I can tell you that June, Rose, Waverly, and Lena are not weak. And neither am I.
I had always forgave my friends when they hurt me. I just thought it was the way of life. I used to let my friends treat me like the piece of garbage that I never really was. I never really stopped to think: Why do they treat me like this? But over time, I realized that saying sorry is not enough. It's cheap and it could even be fake... But maybe just letting go of grudges can make things heal back. Just forgiving someone who's truly sorry can improve a relationship and make it stronger. Sometimes just accepting something for what it is is better. Of all the flaws June, Rose, Waverly, and Lena had made, they were still forgiven by their parents They were still accepted. So forgiving and forgetting is really important sometimes.
Joy. What a wonderful thing to have, although it's not always that easy to obtain.My mother had always bagged about me not being happy around her or anyone in our family. She said I never smiled or acted happy, and she was right. I was bad-tempered around her since she never really understood me; she was crabby all the time from having to take care of a baby daughter and having to work long, hard hours. I never realized how much someone's smile was worth and it hurt not only my mother, but my father too. I didn't like him for an apparent reason and so I never wanted to talk to him. I was rude to him even when he was at his nicest mood. I always wanted to punch him in the face. But this book taught me that one's family is a very important and fragile thing. I saw June's happiness even when she felt uncomfortable and I saw Waverly's easiness when it came to chess and how her mother bragged and gossiped everyday about her, but Waverly still acted like she was in a comfortable position. Lena, the one who's mother was slightly crazy, acted happy around her mother no matter how much she knew that her mother would never really ask her about her feelings. And Rose. She faked that smile on her face along; throughout nights with her husband, throughout uncomfortable conversations with her mother. Every girl showed happiness even in their darkest times. So, really, a smile can mean a thousand words.
This book taught me to enjoy life and to smile when I had to. This book really taught me how to love even when I didn't feel like it. This book was the only thing I could turn to when I had no one to talk to. Know that someday everything will fall in place. No matter how doubtful you are sometimes, you'll always have someone to lean on. So don't lose faith, hope, or joy.
I remember how I felt when I first got this book; alone, upset, afraid. But when I opened the book, the first thing I felt was comfort. I felt a soothing gentle voice that would lead me all through the book. I have some dark memories that no one would want to hear, but I want to tell you that this book is amazing. It breaks your heart and puts it back together again. And sometimes that's exactly what you need. A book with words so touching that you never really know when you'll start to cry or when you'll start to laugh. This book is so powerful and it will never leave you once you read this book. And don't get me wrong; I'm not only saying this because I'm the same race (Chinese) as the ladies in this book, but because it will really mesmerize you. So come and hear this symphony of family, adolescence, obedience and rebelling, responsibility, appreciation, honestly, forgiveness, and of course, joy.
When you think of adolescence, you really think about growing up and getting to do what you want without someone constantly nagging on you. But even more of that, is learning to really be on your own and independent as you can be. I can tell you straight up that this is hard. I've always grown up with the pressure to do this and that without really making my own choices, but this will actually help you later on in life. You'll always know the right thing to do on your own without anyone telling you to. June, Rose, Waverly, and Lena all embark on this beautiful journey of learning to grow up. I know that growing up and really having no one to support you is hard, but it's a part of learning to be an adult. Parents are strict and I would definitely know that from my own, but later on you realize that everything they had told you to do was for your own good. Now that's definitely a part of adolescence. My parents made me take ballet, piano, and Chinese classes when I was younger. They wanted me to be talented and successful just like the parents of June, Rose, Waverly, and Lena. June's mother was obsessive when it came to June becoming famous from playing piano. Hey, she just wants June to be successful, right? Rose's parents didn't want her to succumb to American lifestyles and certainly just pressured her into it. Waverly's mother made her play chess and win every game whilst bragging to her friends. Lena, well Lena's mother had given her the best, but had scared Lena away from her and Chinese lifestyles. You can see here that those parents and mothers had only wanted their children to be the best when they're older. So maybe just act a little more mature if you have to; it'll pay off.
I bet you that every single person had done something they weren't supposed to. It could've been an accident, it could've been done on purpose. But learning to obey and listen when you have to is respectful and it's just a part of growing up. I always have to do chores or things that I really don't want to do, and it's my choice, but I do it anyway. Although, it's not like I've never rebelled or anything. I would throw tantrums, scream, yell insults that I know that have no meaning, and then cry because life was just so unfair. Sometimes you have do have to break through and really tell that person how you feel. Control is an easy thing to be taken advantage of and maybe you'll just have talk it out. June, Rose, Waverly, and Lena are... not the type of people to say sorry; just like much of the rest of our human population.They yell, they fight, they give the cold shoulder, and they can be grouchy if they want to. But what people have to understand is that you can't just think about your own feelings. If you wanted someone to obey you and they didn't, you can't just get mad, but actually try to feel how they're feeling.
Another branch of adolescence is responsibility. When thinking of responsibility, you have to think of others that would be affected, not just yourself. Just carrying on something like you're supposed to can make things better and day after day, you would get more responsible. No one can really just drop everything and leave. No matter how much everyone wants to do that, they can't. We all know that it's our responsibility to go on with life, even in the hardest of times. None of the girls are really that responsible, but you can always see that they're hesitating to do something. Like, when Rose was trapped in the thought of wanting to get divorced, but way too afraid to speak to her mother about it. When it comes to doing what you have to do, you really have to just get it over with; no matter how painful it is. I remember saying this once to a friend and sometimes I really think that telling people just how you feel is your responsibility. You can't rely on everyone to just know your thoughts; even if they can try to see things from your point of view. Just speak and I'm sure that someone will listen. Someone will always be there for you and that's hard to believe, but just believe it. because your responsibility is to just. live throughout life.
Going back to those ballet and piano classes, I still remember how much I dreaded those classes. Only older did I realize that my mom spent hard earned money just for me so I could have a shot at becoming successful. When I took those classes, I was still very young, and at that time my parents had never really taught me to care about others feelings. And so I didn't appreciate anything. It's hard to imagine a life without your parents there for you and some day they'll be gone. Forever. So really appreciate them; they house you, they feed you, they clothe you. June's mother was fanatical when it came to June playing the piano. She even promised to be the teacher's housekeeper for money so June could play the piano. I don't know about you, but I would appreciate my mother if she had done that.But June defies her mother's wishes for her own and after that, their relationship becomes loose although her mother bought her a piano to make her happy again. June realizes that she should cherish that piano since her mother did buy it for her. It comes to show you that just showing a little bit of appreciation can go a long way.
I had always been the different one of my family; always rebelling, always lying so I could get away from the truth... But why lie when you know that the truth is the easier path? I have asked myself that question so many times that I've actually up of an answer: Because the truth hurts. Just like Rose's hated divorce, just like June's forced love for piano, just like Waverly's forced love for chess. I can still remember every single lie I've told and I still remember how hurt my mother looked when she finally found out the truth. But the truth is, honesty doesn't hurt. Lying and hiding hurts you. Just looking back now, I can see that it took me a long time to finally get that. Just admitting that you were wrong is a long way, and it means that you're not afraid to tell the truth and not afraid to grow up. My lies were drastic and deep and it really cut my relationship with my family in half. Lying is just a way of shielding yourself from the rest of the world; it doesn't really help you. But, yeah, maybe sometimes lying is the easier choice since it won't get you in trouble and what not. Although, who in this world can really stand lying for the rest of their lives? Lying is for the weak, for the ones who are afraid, But I can tell you that June, Rose, Waverly, and Lena are not weak. And neither am I.
I had always forgave my friends when they hurt me. I just thought it was the way of life. I used to let my friends treat me like the piece of garbage that I never really was. I never really stopped to think: Why do they treat me like this? But over time, I realized that saying sorry is not enough. It's cheap and it could even be fake... But maybe just letting go of grudges can make things heal back. Just forgiving someone who's truly sorry can improve a relationship and make it stronger. Sometimes just accepting something for what it is is better. Of all the flaws June, Rose, Waverly, and Lena had made, they were still forgiven by their parents They were still accepted. So forgiving and forgetting is really important sometimes.
Joy. What a wonderful thing to have, although it's not always that easy to obtain.My mother had always bagged about me not being happy around her or anyone in our family. She said I never smiled or acted happy, and she was right. I was bad-tempered around her since she never really understood me; she was crabby all the time from having to take care of a baby daughter and having to work long, hard hours. I never realized how much someone's smile was worth and it hurt not only my mother, but my father too. I didn't like him for an apparent reason and so I never wanted to talk to him. I was rude to him even when he was at his nicest mood. I always wanted to punch him in the face. But this book taught me that one's family is a very important and fragile thing. I saw June's happiness even when she felt uncomfortable and I saw Waverly's easiness when it came to chess and how her mother bragged and gossiped everyday about her, but Waverly still acted like she was in a comfortable position. Lena, the one who's mother was slightly crazy, acted happy around her mother no matter how much she knew that her mother would never really ask her about her feelings. And Rose. She faked that smile on her face along; throughout nights with her husband, throughout uncomfortable conversations with her mother. Every girl showed happiness even in their darkest times. So, really, a smile can mean a thousand words.
This book taught me to enjoy life and to smile when I had to. This book really taught me how to love even when I didn't feel like it. This book was the only thing I could turn to when I had no one to talk to. Know that someday everything will fall in place. No matter how doubtful you are sometimes, you'll always have someone to lean on. So don't lose faith, hope, or joy.
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A dream you dream alone is only a dream. A dream you dream together is reality.