Living in a Perfect World

Blog Post #5
Living in a Perfect World: What hard things occur in text?

Not long ago, I've started to read the book, "Feed", written by M. T. Anderson. The story revolves around a boy named Titus in a futuristic world. It is the world where technologies are huge in your basic living. With the "computers" called feeds implanted into human's brain, they no longer have to think for themselves. This may seem incredible if we actually have this type of technologies in our current life. Imagine no more schools, no more worries, and no more needs to make decisions? Life would be awesome if only we have these feeds to control our daily life. But, really? It is really okay? If I were to think more realistically, I would have to admit. I don't want to be fully controlled by machines yet.

First thing's first. Titus and his friends had always relied on their feeds to do the work for them. I feel that these are some of the hard things the characters are facing. A life without feeds to them means a life without a brain to us. For example, when Titus mentioned, "you write? With a pen?...I can read. A little. I kind of protested in the school. On the grounds that the silent 'E' is stupid," I was pretty surprised at the fact that a teenager could be so...dumb. I believe that the author wanted to tell us how you shouldn't not be so irresponsible and count only on machines to maintain a life. I can tell that it's unfair because you should work for want you get.

Second of all, people in his world basically can get anything they want with just the tips of their fingers, actually, that's not even needed. Just command your brain. There are no such things as miracle. If you want something in particular, all you have to do is to desire for it. But when hackers hacked into their feeds, their life was basically disconnected from all the technologies that they had access to before. I feel that people are just getting more lazier this way because of their lack of doing something. Everyone wants to live in a perfect world but there are no such things in reality. To be flawless is impossible. Feeds are useful but in another way, it is also harmful. It has impacted people's growth of intelligence and had increased their laziness. Anderson feels the need to warn us that you should believe that you can also be successful without relying on other factors. I agree with this also because "some people dream of success while others wake up and work hard for it."

Therefore, I strongly believe that you shouldn't count on something to do the work that you are capable of doing. Failures and mistakes only increase your motivation. I can related to Titus because I can't live my life without the accessibility to internet. It is like if we are stuck with something, all we have to do is search it up. However, without the existence of internet, I would just be a little helpless sheep wandering to elsewhere without a goal. To sum it up, I think we should always using determination and courage to get the things we want, and not count on a device to guide our life.

The "Before" and "After" Image

Mockingbird  
Blog Post #4

As I was reading the book, Mockingbird, by Kathryn Erskine, I've realized how much the word "empathy" was mentioned. The main heroin Caitlin, is a ten-year old fifth grader with Asperger's syndrome who could not make sense of anything, especially after the death of her beloved brother, Devon. Her straight forward personality had cost her a lot. She is forced to be surrounded by only colors of black and white, mix with some shades of gray—the color of loneliness. But, as the storyline proceeds, she seems to discover the beauty in the world. The colors of joy. I think she sort of changed from the beginning to the end. I certainly believe that there has been a huge difference between the Caitlin "before, and the Caitlin "after".

Basically, in the first place, she was a little girl that questions everything—true or not true, churlish or not churlish. I understand that this is because of the fact that she does not quite understand the emotions of people—the main thing that classifies human beings. She was the lonely person who likes to suck on her sleeves. “Empathy isn't as hard as it sounds because people have a lot of the same feelings. And it helps to understand other people because then you can actually care about them sometimes. And help them. And have a friend,” said Mrs. Brook, the school counselor. Caitlin's way of trying to be nice to someone is pretty strange. She wanted to make a girl, Rachel, who's face was full of bruises, to feel less embarrassed by putting her chair in the corner, thinking that this way, no one can see her face and that she can finally hide from everyone else. However, I feel this only makes Rachel feel that she wanted to get rid of her by putting her in the corner since her back was to the face of everybody else.

At the beginning of the story, I can tell that Caitlin's life was so emotionless because she didn't quite understand how to put herself into someone's else shoe. She doesn't know how to care for someone else. That's why she lacks friends. Friendship is something absolutely required for a person. I believe that no one can be on the top of the world without a stick to rely on. "You step out of your own shoes and put on someone else's because you're trying to BE that person for a moment," says Mrs. Brook. This is what Caitlin should do. And that's what she did.

Without a question mark, I can tell the changes applied to her slowly as she learned to feel for someone. She had approached her first step. It seems to be that she is starting to understand the hardships her father is facing and so she tried to help him get over the day they fell apart (when Devon died). As it gets towards the end of the book, she learned the meaning of "closure", an often comforting or satisfying sense of finality, and decided, and that's just what they needed to get over Devon's death. While she was helping his father, I figured that she was also rescuing herself from the world of darkness. She was also wanting to actually make friends. No longer was she the girl in the corner all by herself. I realized that Caitlin was changing her life using her own hands for a better situation. She was becoming to realize who she is, what defines her, and what is feelings. Clearly, she had changed from the beginning to the end.

Indeed, transforming from one thing to another is difficult. It's not easily to overcome a barrier that had locked you in from the outside world, that had disconnected you from the society. That describes Caitlin perfectly. She was able to learn the importance of friendship to overcome herself and understand how to feel what others felt. I can relate to her since being alone is not an easy task. It is like talking to a wall. It is a challenge for me because friends are one of the main "materials" that keep you strong. I think Caitlin is just troubled because of the sudden changes in her life. Overall, I feel that Caitlin had matured a lot throughout the book and really grow up from it.

Re-Adjusting Our Daily Lives

Author’s Intrusion

Blog Post #3

As I was anxiously flipping through the pages of Lock and Key written by Sarah Dessen, my eyes drifted to this one paragraph in the middle of nowhere that randomly, is about fishes. “You will need to acclimate them slowly…put the bags in the water for about fifteen minutes so they can get adjusted to the temperature. Then open the bags and let a little bit of your pond water in to mix with what they’re in. Give it another fifteen minutes or so, and then you let them go.” (p174) This simple, yet interesting line (at least to me), made me realize a bigger idea hidden within the book.  You’re probably confused by right as I was before, thinking. “Fishes—how interesting."  Clearly, I‘ve realized a bigger theme that binds in with the plainness and simplicity in this paragraph. 

First of all, this quote reminds me of Ruby’s situation. She had been living by herself illegally under 18, without anyone to rely on, because of the disappearance of her mother.  After the secret has been discovered by the landlords, moreover, the school, she was forced to live with her sister, Cora, unwillingly, in a gorgeous mansion-like dream house. She was scared to accept the help of others and is living life gloomily. Ruby didn’t exactly like that place at first. It was just too distinct from her past, original life. She even tried to escape by climbing the fence. “Acclimate” from the excerpt means to adapt, to familiarize, so basically, this makes me think that Sarah Dessen wanted to tell us readers that no one can fully fit in, in a new place right away. 

Besides that, it takes time for people to get use to it, to adjust to the unfamiliar surrounding. Furthermore, I can’t transfer to a foreign school and automatically feel comfortable around my classmates either. It’s normal for people.  The quote makes total sense. No doubt, you will need to acclimate them slowly. Ruby just needed to give up her tough past. It’s not worth it. In general, I feel that the author wanted to tell us that being in a new environment isn’t something bad.  The key is to slowly let them feel adjusted to it…”and then let them go”.

 Other than that, "...let a little bit of your pond water in to mix with what they’re in" from the text is another intrusion from the author, in which she is trying to tell you that you will need something you can relate to when moving to a new place, so that you can feel connected. This makes you feel more mutual to the unfamiliar people. This way, you don't feel completely foreign and off-topic.

 

Additionally, the extract referred to a fish. I feel that it sort of symbolizes humans. When fishes leave their tanks to live in a new location, they usually start of uneasily, their faces popping up, and then disappearing. Generally, they will do fine and get use to their new place, unless herons come out of nowhere and attack them. It is the same as for any average people. Although having a real human adapt to their new atmosphere certainly takes longer than just 30 minutes, as stated in the text, you will still eventually get over their old past and live in the present. Nobody should stay in the fantasy from their memory. That’s like ancient history. You just got to move on.  Think about death. You have to learn to accept it, not let the scar follow you around.  Fishes are like a role model of humans. They are constantly being moved and played, like toys. Their lives are short, but they never gave up.  Ruby shouldn’t live life gloomily anymore.  I believe that this excerpt clearly describes a fish, but more importantly, also makes me think of people in general and how they social.

In final consideration, I definitely feel that this simple quote is like a life lesson that teaches not just Ruby, but people how you shouldn’t escape from reality just because you don’t feel comfortable with something. You have to give it some time. Nothing can automatically go the way you want. It’s impossible—unless you’re out of the ordinary, of course. In other words, fishes are like humans. It’s a big shock to their system, leaving the tank, but they usually do fine in the end. Lastly, Sarah Dessen uses this voice to remind us about how everyone in a new environment starts off rough, going up the cliff, but then they can still be able to survive as they slide down from it. Being social really makes a big difference. It’s not hard, but time is the most essential factor. Isn’t this the same for you too?

Being More than Just “Friends”

Question #7

& Connecting Annotations:

p48  “Freak on Max’s shoulder, connected and together. They kind of rely on one another.”

p77  “With the teacher just helplessly staring as classmates teases him, Freak sort of acts like his mother. It’s him protecting Max, and Max being protected.”

P131 “Freak declaring “battle” with Killer Kane is pretty much like a midget fighting a giant or a baby verses an adult. Even after knowing this, Freak still dares to act against him in such way.”

What really keeps a newly-born friendship, steady? After reading Freak the Mighty, by Rodman Philbrick, I paused to think as I connect these previously scattered annotations together. The story revolves around Max, who was forced to learn to be alone until Kevin, also known as Freak, brightens his whole life. It seems to be more difficult to have a reliable and meaningful friendship then I had thought it was. It takes more effort than just chatting together and enjoying the times of your life with each other. You may be living your entire life looking for such friend, but not find anything. It takes a lot of trust to maintain this connection. Max and Freak value it more than anybody else. The annotations proved that they care for each other like family members . This type of friendship is quite limited, and I strongly feel that Philbrick had a point to back up through their relationship.

Purposely, I strongly believe that Philbrick is trying to tell us readers that if you are true friends with someone, then you should always watch their backs. Be their first supporters, be there for one another. It’s the requirements. The unchangeable theory. If you fail to complete that task, then I guess they can't really be the "family" type of friends. Also, Philbrick wanted to tell people how two are better than one. You feel more powerful with more people. One can help the other overcome their obstacles. I can tell that the author is trying to say that in order to have a life giving friendship, you must be daring enough to risk your own life for that other person.

These similar annotations mention about Max and Kevin supporting and helping one another. You can say that they act as sticks to help guide both sides. For example, when Freak declared at Killer Kane, “put your hands up, villain!”…"I’m warning you," he was trying to rescue Max from that "kidnapper” who was bigger than triple his size. He was daring and has the guts to do anything he can to save his best friend, even if he had to risk his life. Nothing is risk-free. He was not scared to face the future challenges, because they are watching each others' backs. This idea is repeated throughout the book, making me think that trusting and supporting a friend just for that purpose is an important theme throughout the whole story. You feel stronger when you have someone by your side because you know you’re not alone. They stay by your side so that you don’t feel weak.

Having a steady relationship with someone and leaving your lives in their hands requires a lot of courage. This can help maintain the trusty connection needed between one other. “Order!”…”Order in the court! Let justice be heard!” Freak also said in order to stop the classmates from humiliating Max. The teachers dealt with the problem with silence, but instead, Freak stuck up for him. Isn’t this what friends are for? The annotations basically has this sort of idea mixed in it, since it's about friends backing up for each other.

I’ve also realized that if I were to be a character in this book, I think I would probably be Gram. She’s more like the shapeshifter of the story, who is uncertain of her opinions on Max. Sometimes, she would think about Max as the grandson she had loved. Sometimes, she’s terrified at Max and how he’s becoming to look more like his dad who had murdered his own wife. It’s complicated. I’m pretty doubtful when making decisions too. I can’t make up my mind either. She isn’t good or bad. Gram and I are quite similar since I lack certainty. If I were to be in her shoes, I would probably be afraid of Max more than love him, because generally, I would only look at the facts scattered on the outside. After all, I can’t “read” people’s minds in real life, so I am able to understand her situation. It's not her fault. She felt guilty too. That's life.

Thinking back now, when my eyes shifted to the title, Freak the Mighty, I felt that this has to be some sort of horror mixed with mystery type of book. But now, I feel that the title kind of symbolizes the closeness of their friendship and how they needed each other so much that they just “had” to combine into one new person. With Max doing the walking and Freak doing the brain work, they are invincible. Without one another, they would be no one. No body. Freak the Mighty won't exist. They accepted each others' weaknesses to create their new self. This reminds me of the time when people asked for Freak’s name. He would say, “Sometimes I am Kevin. Sometimes I’m more than Kevin.” He and Max together is Freak the Mighty. It is the connection that ties both of them together.

Overall, Philbrick made me notice the importance of friendship and how it can affect someone so much. This type of friendship can only be maintained if both sides are equality supporting each other. When you’re happy, you want to share the news with them. When you’re sad, you want them to comfort you. When you’re mad, you want them to listen to your complaints. It’s mandatory for true friends to automatically be by your side. How can you live without a friend to rely on?